needful

== English == === Alternative forms === nedefull, needfull === Etymology === From Middle English needeful, nedeful, from Old English nēodful (“necessary; earnest; zealous”). Equivalent to need +‎ -ful. Cognate with Dutch noodvol, German notvoll. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈniːdfl̩/ Hyphenation: need‧ful === Adjective === needful (comparative more needful, superlative most needful) Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable. Antonym: needless (archaic) Needy; in need. ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === needful (plural needfuls) (slang) Ready money; wherewithal. (India, chiefly archaic in other dialects) Anything necessary or requisite. ==== Usage notes ==== Commonly found in phrases such as "kindly do the needful", which occurs commonly in Indian English but is held as archaic in other dialects. Global interactions between English speakers have to some extent led to these phrases being seen as stereotypical of Indian English and parodied by speakers of other dialects. ==== Derived terms ==== do the needful === Anagrams === Neufeld