must needs
Verb

must needs

  1. (dated) .
    • c. 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene i:
      […] I have spoke thus much
      To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
      Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
      Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
    • c. 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act III, Scene iii:
      […] I needs must rest me.
    • 1901, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Chapter X.
      To do so would be to descend to the level of these poor peasants who are not content with a mere fiend-dog, but must needs describe him with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes.
    • 1910, H. G. Wells, The History of Mr Polly
      It seemed to him this must needs be a marvel.



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