needs adv 1: in such a manner as could not be otherwise; "it is necessarily so"; "we must needs by objective" [syn: {inevitably}, {necessarily}, {of necessity}, {needs}]
Needs \Needs\, adv. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. {-wards}.] Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [1913 Webster] A man must needs love mauger his head. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] And he must needs go through Samaria. --John iv. 4. [1913 Webster] He would needs know the cause of his repulse. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]