transitive. Expressing something that is to be done or needs to be done, as a duty, obligation, requirement, etc. Frequently with to-infinitive…

To have as a duty; to be under an obligation (to do something). With to and infinitive. = ought, v. 7a(a). Obsolete.

with personal subject: To owe, ought.

With to-infinitive (formerly also †for to). In a negative clause (without do-construction) or a context with negative implications.

To be obliged or constrained to; must, ought.

had need (equivalent to a modal verb in past tense with present subjunctive force): would require… With to-infinitive. Obsolete.

Used, owing to confusion between the accusative and nominative (see first two quots.), as a personal verb: To be under obligation (to do); = must…

intransitive. Originally Scottish and English regional (northern); now chiefly Law. With passive infinitive: to need to be done. Less commonly…

Scottish. To need. Chiefly in past tense and past participle. intransitive. = need, v.2 10. Obsolete.

U.S. regional and English regional (midlands and southern). As past participle, forming a past perfect tense with had, in sense 7a.

= ought, v. 7a(a) 7b.