needsomeadj.
/ˈniːds(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈnids(ə)m/ rare.
1. Necessary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > [adjective]
needfulOE
necessaryc1376
needfulc1390
necessairea1393
needfula1402
necessariousc1410
requisite1442
unlackablec1443
unsparablec1449
necessc1475
requise1477
needy1487
exigentc1508
of necessityc1515
essential1526
insacrificablea1603
peremptory1607
unspared1614
sine qua non1615
real1620
necessitous1637
needsomec1650
undispensable1658
vital1659
wanting1671
implemental1676
sine quo non1693
indispensable1696
indispensible1792
vital1822
unmissable1823
of the essence (of)1843
c1650 Don Bellianis 49 So many needsome advertisements I presume to tell you.
1885 ‘E. Douglas’ Bloody Heart in Queen of Hid Isle 126 He would bring six trusty knights and tried—All needsome retinue.
2. English regional (Hampshire). Needy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > [adjective] > poor
havelessOE
unrichOE
waedlec1000
armOE
nakedOE
helplessc1175
wantsomec1175
poora1200
barec1220
needfula1225
misease?c1225
unwealya1300
needyc1325
feeblec1330
poorful1372
mischievousc1390
miseasedc1390
indigentc1400
meanc1400
naughtyc1400
succourless1412
unwealthyc1412
behove1413
misterousa1425
misterfulc1480
miserablec1485
beggarly1545
starved1563
threadbare1577
penurious1590
fortuneless1596
wealthless1605
wantful1607
necessitous1611
inopulent1613
titheless1615
egene1631
starveling1638
necessitated1646
inopious1656
parsimonious1782
unopulent1782
lacking1805
bushed1819
obolary1820
ill-to-do1853
down at heel1856
po'1866
needsome1870
down-at-heeled1884
rocky1921
1870 F. P. Verney Lettice Lisle xxviii. 305 I'm a needsome woman now, without e'er a one o' 'um.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1650