necessary
pronunciation
How to pronounce necessary in British English:
UK [ˈnesəsəri]
How to pronounce necessary in American English:
US [ˈnesəseri]
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- Noun:
- anything indispensable
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- Adjective:
- absolutely essential
- unavoidably determined by prior circumstances
Word Origin
- necessary
- necessary: [14] The original Latin adjective meaning ‘necessary’ was necesse (it was formed with the negative particle ne- from the stem of cēdere ‘yield’, source of English cede, and hence meant etymologically ‘unyielding’). This was subsequently extended to necessārius, and English acquired it via Anglo-Norman *necessarie.=> cede, concede, proceed
- necessary (adj.)
- late 14c. "needed, required, essential, indispensable," from Old French necessaire "necessary, urgent, compelling" (13c.), and directly from Latin necessarius "unavoidable, indispensable, necessary," from necesse "unavoidable, indispensable," originally "no backing away," from ne- "not" + cedere "to withdraw, go away, yield" (see cede). The root sense is of that from which there is no evasion, that which is inevitable. Necessary house "privy" is from c. 1600. Necessary evil is from 1540s (the original reference was to "woman").
- necessary (n.)
- mid-14c., "needed, required, or useful things; the necessities of life; actions determined by right or law," perhaps from Old French necessaire (n.) "private parts, genitalia; lavatory," and directly from Latin necessarius (n.), in classical Latin "a relation, relative, kinsman; friend, client, patron;" see necessary (adj.).
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Political reforms are also necessary .
- 2. The necessary technology already exists .
- 3. A lighter application was necessary .
- 4. I believe that is necessary .
- 5. These large deficits are necessary to avoid deflation .