if need be
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editNeed is a noun, be a subjunctive. Perhaps an alteration of Old English phrases like ġif þearf bēo, literally “if need be.” That phrase would have been completely unidiomatic, equivalent to “if a need exists” or “if there is a need.” This is because (1) Old English had no indefinite article, (2) the word for "to be" was also the default word for "to exist" and translates the modern phrase "there is," and (3) the subjunctive mood was much more common and often translates the Modern English indicative.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Adverb
editQuotations
edit- For quotations using this term, see Citations:if need be.
Translations
editif necessary
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