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need

1. A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want. And the city had no need of the sun. (rev. Xxi. 23) I have no need to beg. (Shak) Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy. (Jer. Taylor)

2. Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution. Famine is in thy cheeks; Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes. (Shak)

3. That which is needful; anything necessary to be done; (pl) necessary things; business.

4. Situation of need; peril; danger.

Synonym: exigency, emergency, strait, extremity, necessity, distress, destitution, poverty, indigence, want, penury.

Need, necessity. Necessity is stronger than need; it places us under positive compulsion. We are frequently under the necessity of going without that of which we stand very greatly in need. It is also with the corresponding adjectives; necessitous circumstances imply the direct pressure of suffering; needy circumstances, the want of aid or relief.

Origin: OE. Need, neod, nede, AS. Nead, n<ymac/d; akin to D. Nood, G. Not, noth, Icel. Nauthr, Sw. & Dan. Nod, Goth. Naups.