must Hear it!

must1 definition

must (must)

auxiliary verb must

  1. used to express compulsion, obligation, requirement, or necessity I know I must pay her; I knew I must pay her
  2. used to express probability then you must be my cousin; I thought he must be my cousin
  3. used to express certainty or inevitability all men must die; they knew they must die

Etymology: ME moste, pt., had to < OE, pt. of motan, may, akin to Goth (ga)mot, (I) find room, am permitted, prob. < IE *mōt-, var. of *med-, to measure > mete

intransitive verb

used elliptically in the same functions as must () shoot if you must

noun

something that must be done, had, read, seen, etc. this book is a must

adjective

that must be done, etc.; necessary; essential must reading
must2 definition

must (must)

noun

a state of frenzy in animals, esp. in the male elephant, usually associated with sexual heat

Etymology: Hindi mast, intoxicated < Pers mast < IE base *mad-, to be moist > meat

adjective

in must
must3 definition

must (must)

noun

the juice pressed from grapes or other fruit before it has fermented; new wine

Etymology: ME < OE < L mustum, new wine, neut. of mustus, new, fresh < IE base *meu-, moist > moss

must4 definition

must (must)

noun

a musty quality or state; mustiness

Etymology: back-form. < musty

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (3)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
MUST or HAVE TO155 years ago
must/may37 years ago
you must read this - not357 years ago

Browse Forums