must

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: mustinessmoldinessmust(a)

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. a necessary or essential thing“seat belts are an absolute must”
  2. grape juice before or during fermentation
  3. the quality of smelling or tasting old or stale or mouldySynonyms: mustinessmoldiness

Adjective (1)

  1. highly recommended“a book that is must reading”Synonyms: must(a)
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Must \Must\, n. [AS. must, fr. L. mustum (sc. vinum), from mustus young, new, fresh. Cf. Mustard.]

1.The expressed juice of the grape, or other fruit, before fermentation. "These men ben full of must." --Wyclif (Acts ii. 13.). [1913 Webster]

No fermenting must fills . . . the deep vats.— Longfellow.[1913 Webster]

2.[Cf. Musty.] Mustiness. [1913 Webster]

Must \Must\ (m[u^]st), v. i. or auxiliary. [OE. moste, a pret. generally meaning, could, was free to, pres. mot, moot, AS. m[=o]ste, pret. m[=o]t, pres.; akin to D. moetan to be obliged, OS. m[=o]tan to be free, to be obliged, OHG. muozan, G. m["u]ssen to be obliged, Sw. m[*a]ste must, Goth. gam[=o]tan to have place, have room, to able; of unknown origin.]

1.To be obliged; to be necessitated; -- expressing either physical or moral necessity; as, a man must eat for nourishment; we must submit to the laws. [1913 Webster]

2.To be morally required; to be necessary or essential to a certain quality, character, end, or result; as, he must reconsider the matter; he must have been insane. [1913 Webster]

Likewise must the deacons be grave.— 1 Tim. iii. 8.[1913 Webster]
Morover, he [a bishop] must have a good report of them which are without.— 1 Tim. iii. 7.[1913 Webster]

Note: The principal verb, if easily supplied by the mind, was formerly often omitted when must was used; as, I must away. "I must to Coventry." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Must \Must\, v. t. & i. To make musty; to become musty. [1913 Webster] must
must \must\, musth \musth\(m[u^]st), a. [Hind. mast intoxicated, ruttish, fr. Skr. matta, p.p. of mad to rejoice, intoxicate.] (Zool.) Being in a condition of dangerous frenzy, usually connected with sexual excitement; -- said of adult male elephants which become so at irregular intervals, typicaly due to increased testosterone levels. -- n. (a) The condition of frenzy. (b) An elephant in must. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
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