needs
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originally an adverb meaning 'of necessity, necessarily', survives in the somewhat literary phrase needs must:
He can kill a pig. Probably with his bare hands, if needs must—Observer Food monthly, 2004.The phrase alludes to the old proverb Needs must when the devil drives (and its variants).
| need verb, necessarily, necessaries, necessities | |
| negative, negligee, negligible |
