must

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

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

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

noun

a musty quality or state; mustiness

Etymology: back-form. < musty