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needs must. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
needs must, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
needs must in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
needs must you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Verb
needs must (third-person singular simple present needs must, no present participle, simple past needs must, no past participle)
- Alternative form of must needs.
1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 564:Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to forswear travel; and if I perish I shall be at peace and shall rest from toil and moil."
Proverb
needs must
- Short for needs must when the devil drives.
1905, The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society, page 199:“Needs must,” and the haughty summons of Britain rings even in the impregnable heart of Thibet. This is the mission of Empire, the will of a dominant people bent on advancing the interests of trade.
1999, Jill Laurimore, Going to Pot, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 155:"Needs must and all that – and the devil so often does, doesn't he?" “Excuse me?" "Drives – the devil. Such a relentless old bugger."
Anagrams