adj.
- required to be done, achieved, or present; needed.
- inevitable:
a necessary consequence.
▸Philosophy inevitably resulting from the nature of things, so that the contrary is impossible.
▸Philosophy (of an agent) having no independent volition.
n.
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(necessaries)
the basic requirements of life, such as food and warmth.
-
(the necessary)
informal the action or item needed.
▸Brit. informal the money required.
Etymology
ME: from L. necessarius, from necesse ‘be needful’.