need (subs.) Copy link Outline I. Lack of any particular thing or things1. ŏpus, indecl. (as subs. with esse, foll. by abl. of thing needed; as adj. used predicatively after esse)2. ūsus, ūs (with esse, venire; the thing needed in abl.3. expr. by nĕcesse, nĕcessārius (implying more than need; absolute indispensableness)II. Reason or occasion for doing something; esp. in phr., there is no need, you have no need to do this or thatIII. State of indigence1. nĕcessĭtūdo2. ĭnŏpia, ĕgestas • need (subs.): I. Lack of any particular thing or things: 1. ŏpus, indecl. (as subs. with esse, foll. by abl. of thing needed; as adj. used predicatively after esse): we have n. of a man and a governor, viro et gubernatore opus est, Liv. 24, 8, med.: cf. Cic. Fam. 2, 6, dux nobis et auctor opus est (showing that the two constrr. are precisely identical in meaning): very oft. with abl. of perf. part.: there is n. of prompt action, opus mature facto est, Sall. Cat. 1, extr. Less freq. with gen.: Liv. 22, 51, med. (ad consilium pensandum temporis opus esse), etc. What n. is there, quid opus est (with inf.)? Cic. Att. 7, 8, init. 2. ūsus, ūs (with esse, venire; the thing needed in abl.: infreq.): the ships which the consul had no n. of, naves quibus consuli u. non esset, Liv. 30, 41, fin.: Pl.: Virg.: in case of n., si quando u. esset, Cic. Off. 1, 26, 92 (but Cic. does not use the abl. after usus). 3. expr. by nĕcesse, nĕcessārius (implying more than need; absolute indispensableness): v. necessary. See also to need. II. Reason or occasion for doing something; esp. in phr., there is no need, you have no need to do this or that: there is no n. for me to say what I think about him, de quo quid sentiam nihil attinet dicere, Cic. Fam. 4, 8, med.: you have no n. to dread my coming, nihil est, quod adventum nostrum extimescas, id. Fam. 9, 26, extr.: you had no n. to take so much trouble, non fuit causa cur tantum laborem caperes, id. R. Com. 16, extr. III. State of indigence: 1. nĕcessĭtūdo: those who were suffering from the greatest n., quibus n. maxima, Sall. Cat. 17. 2. ĭnŏpia, ĕgestas: v. want, destitution. Those who are in n., egentes: Cic. Am. 7, 23: Ter.