needful

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   necessary for relief or supply

   Provided them with all things needful.

2. 2
   noun

   the necessary task or item

   To meet our schedule we must do the needful.

3. 3
   adj

   Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable.

   And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforeſaid, That in every Town in the Colony, where Bread is Baken for Sale, there ſhall be Choſen one Clerk of the Market, or more, as each Town ſhall find needful, at their Annual Election of Town Officers, who ſhall duly be Engaged, to the faithful performance of ſaid Office, as other Town Officers are ;[…].

4. 4
   adj

   Needy; in need.

   […] where his active benevolence was ever found in cheerful co-operation for the cause of the humble & needful orphan […].

From Middle English needeful, nedeful, from Old English nēodful (“necessary; earnest; zealous”). Equivalent to need + -ful. Cognate with Dutch noodvol, German notvoll.

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