I. məs(t), ˈməst verb
( present & past all persons must )
Etymology: Middle English moste, from Old English mōste, past indicative & subjunctive of mōtan to be allowed to, have to; akin to Old High German muozan to be allowed to, have to
Date: before 12th century
verbal auxiliary
1.
a. : be commanded or requested to
you must stop
b. : be urged to : ought by all means to
you must read that book
2. : be compelled by physical necessity to
one must eat to live
: be required by immediate or future need or purpose to
we must hurry to catch the bus
3.
a. : be obliged to : be compelled by social considerations to
I must say you're looking well
b. : be required by law, custom, or moral conscience to
we must obey the rules
c. : be determined to
if you must go at least wait for me
d. : be unreasonably or perversely compelled to
why must you argue
4. : be logically inferred or supposed to
it must be time
5. : be compelled by fate or by natural law to
what must be will be
6. : was or were presumably certain to : was or were bound to
if he did it she must have known
7. dialect : may , shall — used chiefly in questions
intransitive verb
archaic : to be obliged to go
I must to Coventry — Shakespeare
II. ˈməst noun
Date: 1616
1. : an imperative need or duty : requirement
2. : an indispensable item : essential
exercise is a must
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin mustum
Date: before 12th century
: the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation ; also : the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) moist, from Middle French must, alteration of musc musk
Date: 15th century
1. : musk
2. : mold , mustiness