necessitude

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nəˈsɛsɪt(j)uːd/ === Noun === necessitude (plural necessitudes) (rare) The state or characteristic of being in need; neediness. (rare, usually pluralized) A circumstance or event which is necessary or unavoidable, especially because it is a requirement of a social role or natural state of affairs. 1872, James Parsons, "The Ancient Commonwealth," The American Law Register (1852-1891), vol. 20, no. 8, New Series vol. 11, p. 485: He lives with them in the isolated home of the tribe and enters into the mysterious communion with the domestic gods who still take part in the necessitudes of the family. (rare, chiefly philosophy) Necessity. (archaic) A relation or connection between people or things. ==== Usage notes ==== Necessitude, necessitousness, necessitation, necessariness are all nouns closely related to necessity, but they tend to have narrower ranges of usage than the term necessity. The principal sense of necessitude and necessitousness is impoverishment, but the plural form of the former (necessitudes) denotes a set of circumstances which is inevitable or unavoidable. Necessitation is used to suggest necessity as a philosophical or cosmic principle. Necessariness tends to be used to stress a direct connection to the adjective necessary. ==== Derived terms ==== === References ===