require
verbUK /ɹɪˈkwaɪə/ · US /ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/
Etymology From Old French requerre (whence Modern French requérir), from Latin requīrō (“to require, seek, ask for”, literally “to seek back”), from re- (“back; again”) + quaerō (“to seek”, whence query).
1
To demand, to insist upon (having); to call for authoritatively.
- "I am Miss Newbury," I announced, "and I require to be shown to my room immediately, if you please."1998, Joan Wolf, The Gamble, Warner Books:
- ‘Regrettably, I have concluded, after considering the matter over Christmas[…], that I can no longer maintain the high standard of service I require of myself, meet the demands of office and cope with the pressures of public life, without my health deteriorating further.’2009 December 29, Vikram Dodd, The Guardian:
2
Naturally to demand (something) as indispensable; to need, to call for as necessary.
- Chronic pain is occasionally a sign of a very serious problem, like brain tumors, and can require surgery.1972 June 5, “Aid for Aching Heads”, in Time:
- A weapon small enough to put on a missile would require uranium enriched to more than 90% U-235.2009 February 7, Julian Borger, The Guardian:
3
To demand (of someone) to do something.
- It is required (of me) that I give evidence in court.
- After Aug 3 all salesgirls will be required to wear only one style of skirt while on duty: the midi.1970 June 29, “Compulsory Midi”, in Time:
1 more example
- The government would like to require non-British fiances who wish to marry a British citizen to sit an English test.2007 December 5, Allegra Stratton, “Smith to ban non-EU unskilled immigrants from working in UK”, in The Guardian:
4
Obsolete To ask (someone) for something; to request; to beseech.
- I requyre yow lete vs be sworne to gyders that neuer none of vs shalle after this day haue adoo with other, and there with alle syre Tristram and sire Lamorak sware that neuer none of hem shold fyghte ageynst other nor for wele, nor for woo.1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum XI”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book IX, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 355:
- I requyre the in the name of god, that thou torment me nott.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Mark: