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—needer, n./need/, n.1. a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation: There is no need for you to go there.2. a lack of something wanted or deemed necessary: to fulfill the needs of the assignment.3. urgent want, as of something requisite: He has no need of your charity.4. necessity arising from the circumstances of a situation or case: There is no need to worry.5. a situation or time of difficulty; exigency: to help a friend in need; to be a friend in need.6. a condition marked by the lack of something requisite: the need for leadership.7. destitution; extreme poverty: The family's need is acute.8. if need be, should the necessity arise: If need be, I can type the letters myself.v.t.9. to have need of; require: to need money.v.i.10. to be under an obligation (used as an auxiliary, typically in an interrogative or in a negative statement, and fol. by infinitive, in certain cases without to; in the 3d pers. sing. the form is need, not needs): He need not go.11. to be in need or want.12. to be necessary: There needs no apology.[bef. 900; (n.) ME nede, OE ned (WSaxon nied), c. G Not, ON nauth, Goth nauths; (v.) ME neden, OE neodian, deriv. of the n.]Syn. 2, 3. See lack. 3. requirement. 4. NEED, NECESSITY imply a want, a lack, or a demand, which must be filled. NEED, a word of Old English origin, has connotations that make it strong in emotional appeal: the need to be appreciated. NECESSITY, a word of Latin origin, is more formal and impersonal or objective; though much stronger than NEED in expressing urgency or imperative demand, it is less effective in appealing to the emotions: Water is a necessity for living things. 5. emergency. 7. neediness, indigence, penury, privation. See poverty. 9. want, lack.Ant. 7. wealth.
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Universalium. 2010.