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must needs. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
must needs, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
must needs in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Verb
must needs (third-person singular simple present must needs, no present participle, simple past must needs, no past participle)
- (dated) A pleonastic intensification of must using the adverb needs, meaning “must necessarily”.
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, : I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
1726 October 28, , Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume I, London: Benj Motte, , →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 226–227:I remember, before the Dwarf left the Queen, he followed us one day into thoſe gardens, and my Nurſe having ſet me down, he and I being cloſe together, near ſome Dwarf Apple trees, I muſt need ſhew my Wit, by a ſilly Alluſion between him and the Trees, which happens to hold in their Language as it doth in ours.
1901, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter X, in The Hound of the Baskervilles:To do so would be to descend to the level of these poor peasants who are not content with a mere fiend-dog, but must needs describe him with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes.
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