Main Entry: ¹nec·es·sary

Pronunciation: \ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English necessarie, from Latin necessarius, from necesse necessary, probably from ne- not + cedere to withdraw — more at no

Date: 14th century

1 a : of an inevitable nature : inescapable b (1) : logically unavoidable (2) : that cannot be denied without contradiction c : determined or produced by the previous condition of things d : compulsory
2 : absolutely needed : required