- Must
- Must Must (m[u^]st), v. i. or auxiliary. [OE. moste, a pret.
generally meaning, could, was free to, pres. mot, moot, AS.
m[=o]ste, pret. m[=o]t, pres.; akin to D. moetan to be
obliged, OS. m[=o]tan to be free, to be obliged, OHG. muozan,
G. m["u]ssen to be obliged, Sw. m[*a]ste must, Goth.
gam[=o]tan to have place, have room, to able; of unknown
origin.]
1. To be obliged; to be necessitated; -- expressing either
physical or moral necessity; as, a man must eat for
nourishment; we must submit to the laws.
[1913 Webster]
2. To be morally required; to be necessary or essential to a certain quality, character, end, or result; as, he must reconsider the matter; he must have been insane. [1913 Webster]
Likewise must the deacons be grave. --1 Tim. iii. 8. [1913 Webster]
Morover, he [a bishop] must have a good report of them which are without. --1 Tim. iii. 7. [1913 Webster]
Note: The principal verb, if easily supplied by the mind, was formerly often omitted when must was used; as, I must away. ``I must to Coventry.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.