must needs

must needs

English

Alternative forms

• needs must

Verb

must needs (third-person singular simple present must needs, no present participle, simple past must needs, no past participle)

1. (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[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i]:

     […] 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.

   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene iii]:

     […] I needs must rest me.

   • 1901, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Chapter X.

     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.

   • 1910, H. G. Wells, The History of Mr. Polly

     It seemed to him this must needs be a marvel.

See also

• needs must when the devil drives

Anagrams

• mutedness, needs must