must

I. verb (present & past all persons must) Etymology: Middle English moste, from Old English mōste, past indicative & subjunctive of mōtan to be allowed to, have to; akin to Old High German muozan to be allowed to, have to Date: before 12th century verbal auxiliary 1. a. be commanded or requested to <

you must stop

> b. be urged to ; ought by all means to <

you must read that book

> 2. be compelled by physical necessity to <

one must eat to live

> ; be required by immediate or future need or purpose to <

we must hurry to catch the bus

> 3. a. be obliged to ; be compelled by social considerations to <

I must say you're looking well

> b. be required by law, custom, or moral conscience to <

we must obey the rules

> c. be determined to <

if you must go at least wait for me

> d. be unreasonably or perversely compelled to <

why must you argue

> 4. be logically inferred or supposed to <

it must be time

> 5. be compelled by fate or by natural law to <

what must be will be

> 6. was or were presumably certain to ; was or were bound to <

if he did it she must have known

> 7. dialect may, shall — used chiefly in questions intransitive verb archaic to be obliged to go <

I must to Coventry — Shakespeare

> II. noun Date: 1616 1. an imperative need or duty ; requirement 2. an indispensable item ; essential <

exercise is a must

> III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin mustum Date: before 12th century the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation; also the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes IV. noun Etymology: Middle English (Scots) moist, from Middle French must, alteration of musc musk Date: 15th century 1. musk 2. mold, mustiness