need

need
{{11}}need (n.) O.E. nied (W.Saxon), ned (Mercian) "necessity, compulsion, duty; hardship, distress; errand, business," originally "violence, force," from P.Gmc. *nauthis (Cf. O.S. nod, O.N. nauðr, O.Fris. ned, M.Du., Du. nood, O.H.G. not, Ger. Not, Goth. nauþs "need"), probably cognate with O.Pruss. nautin "need," and perhaps with O.C.S. nazda, Rus. nuzda, Pol. nД™dza "misery, distress," from PIE *nau- "death, to be exhausted" (see NARWHAL (Cf. narwhal)).
The more common Old English word for "need, necessity, want" was ðearf, but they were connected via a notion of "trouble, pain," and the two formed a compound, niedðearf "need, necessity, compulsion, thing needed." Nied also might have been influenced by O.E. neod "desire, longing," which often was spelled the same. Common in Old English compounds, e.g. niedfaru "compulsory journey," a euphemism for "death;" niedhæmed "rape," the second element being an Old English word meaning "sexual intercourse;" niedling "slave." Meaning "extreme poverty, destitution" is from c.1200.
{{12}}need (v.) O.E. neodian "be necessary, be required (for some purpose); require, have need of," from the same root as NEED (Cf. need) (n.). Meaning "to be under obligation (to do something)" is from late 14c. Related: Needed; needing. The adjectival phrase need-to-know is attested from 1952. Dismissive phrase who needs it?, popular from c.1960, is a translated Yiddishism.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • need — verb. 1. Like dare, need can behave in two ways: as an ordinary verb and as a modal auxiliary verb sharing some of the characteristics of the main modals including can, may, might, should, etc. As an ordinary verb, need is regular and can be… …   Modern English usage

  • need — [nēd] n. [ME nede < OE nied, akin to Ger not, Goth nauths < IE * neuti < base * neu , to collapse with weariness > Welsh newyn, starvation] 1. necessity or obligation created by some situation [no need to worry] 2. a lack of something …   English World dictionary

  • need — n Need, necessity, exigency may all denote either a state or condition requiring something as essential or indispensable or the thing required. Need implies pressure and urgency arising either from external or internal causes or forces; it may… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Need — (n[=e]d), n. [OE. need, neod, nede, AS. ne[ a]d, n[=y]d; akin to D. nood, G. not, noth, Icel. nau[eth]r, Sw. & Dan. n[ o]d, Goth. nau[thorn]s.] 1. A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • need — need·ces·si·ty; need·ful·ly; need·ful·ness; need·i·ness; need·less; need·ment; need; need·ful; need·less·ly; need·less·ness; …   English syllables

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  • Need To — «Need To» Сингл Korn из альбома Korn Выпущен 1995 Формат CD Записан …   Википедия

  • Need — 〈[ni:d] n. 15; unz.; Psych.〉 Menge aller subjektiven, an der Umwelt orientierten Bedürfnisse [<engl. need „Bedürfnis“] * * * Need [ni:d], das; [s] [engl. need = Bedürfnis] (Psychol.): Gesamtheit der Antriebe, Bedürfnisse, Wünsche u. Haltungen… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Need — (n[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Needed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Needing}.] [See {Need}, n. Cf. AS. n[=y]dan to force, Goth. nau[thorn]jan.] To be in want of; to have cause or occasion for; to lack; to require, as supply or relief. [1913 Webster] Other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • need — [n1] want, requirement charge, commitment, committal, compulsion, demand, desideratum, devoir, duty, essential, exigency, extremity, longing, must, obligation, occasion, ought, requisite, right, the urge, urgency, use, weakness, wish; concepts 20 …   New thesaurus

  • need|y — «NEE dee», adjective, need|i|er, need|i|est. not having enough to live on; characterized by poverty or need; very poor: »a needy family, to be in needy circumstances. SYNONYM(S): indigent, destitute, penniless …   Useful english dictionary

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