Necessary

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnÉ›səˌsɛɹi/ US
• IPA: /ˈnÉ›sÉ™sɹɪ/ RP
• (nonstandard) IPA: /ˈnÉ›səɹi/

Origin

From Middle English necessarye, from Old French necessaire, from Latin necessārius ("unavoidable, inevitable, indispensable, requisite"), from necesse ("unavoidable, inevitable, indispensable"), neuter adjective with esse and habeō ("I have"), probably originating from ne cessum or non cessum, from ne ("not") + cessus, perfect passive participle of cēdō ("I yield"); see cede.

Full definition of necessary

Adjective

1. needed, required
• Shakespeare'Tis necessary he should die.
• TillotsonA certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of our minds.
2. Such as must be; not to be avoided; inevitable.
• ShakespeareDeath, a necessary end,
  Will come when it will come.
3. Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary.Whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question much discussed.

Synonyms

• (needed) See also
• (such as must be) inevitable, natural

Antonyms

• (needed) unnecessary
• (such as must be) evitable, incidental, impossible

Derived terms

• necessarily
• necessary condition

Related terms

• necessariness
• necessitate
• necessitation
• necessitousness
• necessitude
• necessity

Noun

1. (archaic, British) bathroom, toilet, loo