I. nə̇ˈsesəd.ē, -ətē, -ˈsestē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English necessite, from Middle French necessité, from Latin necessitat-, necessitas, from necesse necessary + -itat, -itas -ity — more at necessary
1. : the quality or state or fact of being necessary: as
a. : a condition arising out of circumstances that compels to a certain course of action
as if there were some necessity for being together that only the two of them understood — C.B.Flood
b. : inevitableness , unavoidability
the necessity of death
c. : great or absolute need : indispensability
the necessity of full and fair news service — F.L.Mott
the necessity of civil, academic, and scientific liberty — George Soule
d.
(1) : absence of physical or moral liberty : physical or moral compulsion
did it, not because he wanted to, but by necessity
making a virtue of necessity
(2) : constraint or compulsion arising out of the natural constitution of things : impossibility of a contrary order or condition of things
submitting to the necessity imposed by the physical laws of the universe
logical necessity
physical necessity
2. : the quality or state or fact of being in difficulties or in need
came to help them in their necessity
especially : poverty
was reduced to the most abject necessity
3. : something that is necessary : requirement , requisite
daily necessities
is a necessity for happy living
the necessities of life
•
- of necessity
II. adjective
Etymology: necessity (money)
: consisting of, used as, or designed for necessity money
a necessity coin