χρή
Etym. imperf. ἐχρῆν, also without the augm. χρῆν even in attic
I. "it is fated, necessary", Aesch., etc.; οὐδὲ ἓν ἴαμα ὅ τι χρῆν προσφέροντας ὠφελεῖν no one remedy which "one was sure" to do good by administering, Thuc.:—c. inf. "it must, must needs, one must or ought" to do, Hom., attic; more often, like Lat. oportet, c. acc. pers. et inf. "one must, one must needs, it behoves, befits" one to.., οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ νηλεὲς ἦτορ ἔχειν Il., etc.; often the inf. must be supplied from the context, τίπτε μάχης ἀποπαύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή (sc. ἀποπαύεσθαι), why cease from battle? for "it behoves" thee not, Il.; so, ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα (sc. μάρνασθαι) Od.; ἐπιπλεύσειέ τις ὡς χρή (sc. ἐπιπλεῦσαι) Thuc.:—absol., ἐρεῖ τις, οὐ χρῆν [sc. τοῦτο ποιεῖν], ἀλλὰ τί χρῆν εἴπατε Eur. ap. Ar.
2. c. acc. pers. et gen. rei, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ ἀφροσύνης thou "hast" no "need of" imprudence, i. e. it does not "befit" thee, Il.; μυθήσεαι ὅττεό (i. e. ὅτου) σε χρή thou wilt say what thou "hast need" of, Od.
II. sometimes in a less strong sense, πῶς χρὴ τοῦτο περᾶσαι; how "is one to" get through this? Theocr.
III. τὸ χρῆν (inf.) = χρεών, "fate, destiny", Eur.