Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary

1,802,456,377 visitors served.

forum mailing list For webmasters

Dictionary/
thesaurus

Medical
dictionary

Legal
dictionary

Financial
dictionary

Acronyms

Idioms

Encyclopedia

Wikipedia
encyclopedia

of necessity

0.04 sec.

ne·ces·si·ty (n

-s

-t

)

n. pl. ne·ces·si·ties

a. The condition or quality of being necessary.

b. Something necessary: The necessities of life include food, clothing, and shelter.

a. Something dictated by invariable physical laws.

b. The force exerted by circumstance.

3. The state or fact of being in need.

4. Pressing or urgent need, especially that arising from poverty.

Idiom:

of necessity

As an inevitable consequence; necessarily.

[Middle English necessite, from Old French, from Latin necessits, from necesse, necessary; see necessary.]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adv.

of necessity - in such a manner as could not be otherwise; "it is necessarily so"; "we must needs by objective"

inevitably, needs, necessarily

How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email

Feedback
Add definition

? Mentioned in

? References in classic literature

modal logic
necessity
need
needs

perforce
requirement
requisite
urgency

The straight warp of necessity, not to be swerved from its ultimate course --its every alternating vibration, indeed, only tending to that; free will still free to ply her shuttle between given threads; and chance, though restrained in its play within the right lines of necessity, and sideways in its motions directed by free will, though thus prescribed to by both, chance by turns rules either, and has the last featuring blow at events.

Moby Dick I-LXVII by Melville, Herman View in context

Next to things of necessity, the rule for a gift, which one of my friends prescribed, is that we might convey to some person that which properly belonged to his character, and was easily associated with him in thought.

Essays, Second Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context

No man can quite exclude this element of Necessity from his labor.

Essays, First Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context

More results

Dictionary/thesaurus browser

? Full browser

Of consequence
of course
of each person
Of force
of import
of late
Of long
of necessity
Of new
Of no effect
Of no use
Of old
Of one's self
Of passage
Of sale

Of Mice and Men (1939 film)
Of Mice and Men (1939 movie)
Of Mice and Men (1939)
Of Mice and Men (1992 film)
Of Mice and Men (1992 movie)
Of Mice and Men (1992)
Of Mice and Men (film)
Of Mice and Men (movie)
Of Mice and Men (novel)
Of Mice and Men (novel)
Of Mice and Men (song)
Of Mice and Men in popular culture
Of mice of men
Of mice of men
of minor importance
Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives

Of Miracles
of mixed character
of moment
Of Montreal
Of Moths and Men
OF Müller
Of Myths and Legends
Of Natural History
of necessity
Of new
Of nice and men
Of nice and men
of no account
of no avail
of no avail
of no avail
of no avail

of no binding force
of no concern
of no consequence
Of no effect
Of no effect
of no essential consequence
Of No Fixed Abode
of no legal weight
of no moment
of no repute
of no significance
Of no use
of no validity
of no value
of no weight
of note

Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup \| Partner with us

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.