Must (mŭst), v. i. or auxiliary. [OE. moste, a pret. generally meaning, could, was free to, pres. mot, moot, AS. mōste, pret. mōt, pres.; akin to D. moetan to be obliged, OS. mōtan to be free, to be obliged, OHG. muozan, G. müssen to be obliged, Sw. måste must, Goth. gamōtan 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.
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.
Likewise must the deacons be grave. 1 Tim. iii. 8.
Morover, he must have a good report of them which are without. 1 Tim. iii. 7.
☞ 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.