Etymology Map
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Necessary

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means required to be done

Where does the word "necessary" come from? It comes from Latin necessarius, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
necessarius
Latin · ancient
"unavoidable"
from 'necesse', unavoidable: 'ne-', not, plus 'cedere', to yield
2
Stage 2 of 3
necessaire
Old French · medieval
"necessary"
Latin 'necesse' literally meant 'no backing away'; English 'necessary house' meant a privy by the 1610s
3
Stage 3 of 3
necessary
English · 1300s
"unavoidable"
'necessity is the mother of invention' dates from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Necessary’s story begins in Latin: necessarius meant “unavoidable.” From 'necesse', unavoidable: 'ne-', not, plus 'cedere', to yield. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as necessaire. Latin 'necesse' literally meant 'no backing away'; English 'necessary house' meant a privy by the 1610s. It reached English by 1300s as necessary. 'necessity is the mother of invention' dates from the 1500s. Today, necessary means required to be done.