needs must

needs must (third-person singular simple present needs must, no present participle, simple past needs must, no past participle)

1. Alternative form of must needs.
   • 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 564:

     Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to forswear travel; and if I perish I shall be at peace and shall rest from toil and moil."

needs must

1. Short for needs must when the devil drives.
   • 1905, The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society, page 199:

     “Needs must,” and the haughty summons of Britain rings even in the impregnable heart of Thibet. This is the mission of Empire, the will of a dominant people bent on advancing the interests of trade.

   • 1999, Jill Laurimore, Going to Pot, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 155:

     "Needs must and all that – and the devil so often does, doesn't he?" “Excuse me?" "Drives – the devil. Such a relentless old bugger."

• must needs, mutedness