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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nede-, Neidful(l, a. Also: ned-, neide-, neyd-, nyeid-, nid-, need- and -fule, -foull. [ME. and e.m.E. ned(e)ful(l, also néodful, early niedfull (12th c.), f. Nede n.]

1. a. Of persons: Needy, necessitous. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 80.
The remanand dystribut scho To pure mene & neidful to c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii. 33(R).
In warld is purest man I vys And neidfullest In his intent For of allguidis nothing is his c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5983.
That tyme quhen ȝe refusit the puris Quhilkis neidfull cryit at ȝour duris

b. Of conditions, circumstances, etc.: Attended by need or want. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 100 (A).
Ande efterwart a mekill nedful mistar cumis to the fader 1456 Hay II. 81/32.
He that gevis atour his power … puttis him till a bitter nedefull destress of povertie c1630 Scot Narr. 176.
In so needfull and dangerous a time

c. Of manner of living: Confined to simple needs, frugal, sparing. c1460 Thewis Gud Women (S.T.S.) 249.
And thai had thriftee men With gudly, suet, neidfull lewynge, Thai wald neuir do mys for nakyne thinge

2. Requisite, necessary, indispensable, desirable; also obligatory, unavoidable, essential. a. In attrib. use.Freq. nedefull thing(is.(1) a1400 Leg. S. v. 113.
The thryd for nedful dispysinge Is quhene [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 225/32. Ib. II. 85/8, 161/27.
Quhen a thing principale is grantit, all the nedefull pertinence till it is grauntit 1464 Peebles B. Rec. I. 150.
In tym of gangyng to the kyrk or another neidful erand 1494 Ib. 195.
Al the irne wark and treyn wark nedful and behufful pertening to the said stipil 1521 Doug. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xv.
I am cummyn in this realm … apon certan neydfull dyrectiounes 15.. Clar. v. 374.
The Constabill … At sike ane tyme [at the feast] he was ane neidfull man c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4842.
The neidfull sacramentis Ib. 652. 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 7.
To inlaik thair neidful sustentatioun 1590 Mill Mediæv. Plays 197.
For scaffalding & vther neidfull provisioun 1600-1610 Melvill 23.
Bot his will was neidfull obedience to us 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 201.
The fore court surrounded with all needfull office houses 1695 Reg. Privy C. in Chambers Domestic Ann. III. 143.
To … make the needful improvements(2) c1420 Wynt. v. 3916.
In mete or drynk or clethyng And in all odyr nedfull thyng Ib. vi. 1358 (W).
Gif destany be neidfull thing That I commend to thare iugeing That clerkis are 14.. Burgh Laws c. 15 (B).
Thai sal fynd hym al nedful thyngys that is to mete & clath 1456 Hay I. 296/33. Ib. 112/11.
For suppos he be never sa wys ȝit may he fynd evermare to lere newly nedefull and spedefull thingis 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 177.
With ledyn of sand to al nedful thyngis of the abbai 1483 Acta Conc. I. *84/1.
In all nedefull thingis according for a gentle man 1498 Ib. II. 287. 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 81.
And siklike neidfull thingis 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 68. 1513 Doug. iv. x. 65. 1545 Reg. Cupar A. II. 33.
And principally in the neidfull thingis pertenyng to the said altar 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1512.
The same tender plant Sum neidfull thing it did inlaik and want(3) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 8.
The Lords Auditouris … ordanis … that letters nedefull be direct hereapone 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
Wyth all vtheris clausis neidfull & speidfull 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 220/1.
And al uther officiaris nedeful 1516 Ib. 413/1.
And all uther officiaris … neidful 1565 Lochwinnoch Par. 131.
With all claus of varrandice neidfoull 1583 Perth B. Ct. 30 April.
[To] mak all vther securitie nidfull heiron 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 158.
And that all letters neidfull pas heirupon as effeirs 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 278.
For citeing of assyses and witnesses neidfull

b. (At) (al) times or places nedeful, = when or where something or some action is needed or desirable.(1) 1505 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 103.
That ane of the maisteris … pas at all tymes neidfull [to] lift and rais the saidis quarter paymentis 1554 Ib. II. 193.
To pas in and furth thairat at tymes neidfull 1588 Glenartney Doc.(2) 1555 Glenartney Doc.
Ȝe pas to all and sindrie the paroche kirkis and townis and vtheris places neidfull 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlviii.
That … ye pas to … Edinburgh and all vtheris places neidfull 1622-6 Bisset I. 97/9.
It is difficill to cary these oure letteres to everie places neidfull 1624 Justiciary Cases I. 18. 1631 Ib. 152.

c. In predic. use. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 131.
Til he in knavlege of clergy That nedful wes wes wise inuch 1456 Hay I. 149/19.
For sen his caus is nedefull and resonable, laufull, naturell and cheritable Ib. II. 116/3.
And gif he takis lesse na is nedefull, alssua he will be seke Ib. I. 160/13. 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 331.
It sall be … reformit als oft as it be seyne spedfull or nedfull 1535 Stewart 3135. Ib. 22466.
Meit and drink [etc.] … That neidfullwar, he hes to thame sent 1533 Boece i. vi. 45.
Saying or thai recounterit in batell ane commonyng was nedeful 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 292.
Caus wait one the fortht of Inaresk sa mony as is nedfull 1560 Bk. Disc. 216.
In everie colledge we think neidfull at the least ane steward [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 141/8.
To bring the effect quhen ewir it was neidfull 1596 Dalr. I. 126/16.
Quhilke counsel … appeired … sa necessar, sa proffitable and sa neidful that [etc.] 1613 Glasgow Merchants House 110.
Mair nor was neidfull

d. Const. to (till) (also towardis) or for some person or some purpose or object.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 430.
Bryng hame quhet, oyle or wyne & nedful thing to the keching 1456 Hay I. 154/32.
And myn othir gere that is nedefull to me Ib. II. 62/29.
The vertu of temperaunce, and quhat it is nedefull and behovefull till Ib. I. 112/8, II. 54/12, 92/30, 116/2. 1506 Liber Aberbr. II. 370.
Ande all othir necessar thingis to do … neidful to fisching craft 1513 Doug. Æn. Direct. 42.
That it salbe reput a neidfull wark To thame wald Virgill to childryn expone 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 14. 1624 Crim. Trials III. 559.
All vther thingis neidfull towardis the executioun of this our commissioun to do and vse(2) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 350.
Gold and sylk Anournyt with sere coloures clere As for syk thing nedefull were 1452 Acts II. 41/2.
Na maner of wittail … forther than is neidfull for thair awin persounis and … thair househaldis 1456 Hay II. 54/36.
And thus is prudence ane of the maist nedefull poyntis that may be for knychtis 1484 Lennox Mun. II. 124.
And all vthir officiaris neidefull for the keping of the saide castell 1493 Ib. 149.
The wryttynis nedfull for the fulfilling of the forsaid thingis 1597 Douglas Corr. 42.
Neidfull 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 30 July.
And utheris memberis of court neidfull for administratioun of justice 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 214. 1670 Ib. 268.
With power … to make laigher the said gramer scooll loft if found neidfull for thair accomodatione

e. Const. infin. phrase, active or passive.With (2), cf. Med(e)ful(l a. (2).(Something) is nedefull to be done, = it is necessary or desirable that it be done.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 420.
Althinge, that nedfull ware To serwe & ese thame in thare fare 1456 Hay I. 118/20. Ib. II. 112/17.
For thai twa thingis ar bathe nedefull and spedefull to geve bataill a1538 Abell 38 b.
Pelage … said … at baptism wes nocht neidfull to do awa syn bot [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xix. 36. 1614 Highland P. III. 153.
I wanttit … credit neidfull to haue affectuatit suche ane earand(2) 1498 Acta Conc. II. 269.
Wit ye that neidefull thing is to bere lele witnessing to the suthfastnes 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 88.
Sen neidfull thing is to beir leill vytnessing(3) c1420 Ratis R. 1805.
Syndry thinge That is rycht nedfull for to knaw 1535 Stewart 5919.
Money and men … And alkin thing that neidfull is to haif 1554 Reg. Cupar A. II. 113.
We fyndand him sic stuf in the mentyme as wilbe neidful to wse vpoun our expens 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8666.(4) 1456 Hay I. 145/27.
The quhilk is bathe nedefull and spedefull to be payit 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
Housis biggit apon our wal … the quhilkis ar nedefull to be castin doune 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I. 20.
And gife hus [= his] harandis be gret and nyeidfull to be doun 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 102.
All utheris evidens nedfull to be had 1635 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 31.
To observe quhat is … moist neidfull to be helpit

3. Needful, necessary, desirable. In impersonal phrases, variously const. a. It is nedefull, nedefull is.With (2), cf. Med(e)ful(l a. (2).(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2432.
Philip my father is dede And neidfull is to haue ane in his stede c1515 Asl. MS. I. 329/23.
It is nocht nedefull to expreme thaim here a1500 Bk. Chess 1110. 1513 Doug. vi. i. 68.
Mair neidfull now it war … Sevin ȝong stottis … in offerand brittin ilkane 1533 Gau 25/33. 1567 G. Ball. 130.
That is neidful to want na thing a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xi. 53. 1598 Liber Coll. Glasg. lxxvi.
Neidfull it is to haif the autentik copies therof(2) 1431 Buccleuch Mun. II. 28.
For that yt ys neidfull and merytabelle to ber wytnes to the suthfastnes 1480 Thanes of Cawdor 439.
Neidfule 1481 Soc. Ant. LX. 90.(3) c1460 Vert. Mess (S.T.S.) 9.
It is mar spedfull, neidful and profitabile to the manis saul-heill to her mes … na [etc.] 1456 Hay II. 161/21.
It is nedefull … to thé till have a … discrete man to be thy secretare a1500 Bk. Chess 629.
Neidfull it is to princis or to a king Off litteratour to be attour all thing 1583 Reg. Morton I. 141.
His answer wes … it wes nocht neidfull to him to put thame in wreit 1600 Crim. Trials II. 192.(4) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 583.
Thare for is nedful that thru thé Oure goddis now enpleysit be 1489 Acts II. 219/1.
That it is … neidfull that ane ambaxiat be send c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 26.
Nocht neidfull is men sowld be dum 1533 Boece ii. xii. 84 b.
Nedefull war that men evill gevin and nurissaris of discorde war removit Ib. vii. x. 241.
It is nedefull that quhay desiris wyn seneȝeorie … suld [etc.] 1533 Gau 5/18. Ib. 8/13. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. ci. 79.
And neidfull that ȝe freindis be 1566 Gray Lett. & P. App. x.
It is maist neidfoull that we be honorabillie accumpanyt 1577 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 419/1.(5) 1519–20 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 194.
And gif itt be neidfull, comand thame of the toun … till do swa 1535 Stewart 30839.
As neidfull war

b. To think (also, to find) (it) nedeful.(1) 1550 Corr. M. Lorraine 341.
We thocht nocht neidfull to impesche you with lang writing 1550–1 Ib. 345.
I thocht it neidfull to breik with my lord governour 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9971. 1567 Acts II. 548/2.
Our said souerane … hes thocht neidfull and convenient to dispens … like as hir maiestie presentlie dispensis 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 397.
I think it not greitlie neidfull to tary thé thairon 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 4. 1589 Douglas Corr. 241.
I thocht it nocht nedfull to wreit particularlie to everyone(2) 1515 Douglas Corr. 68.
The Quenys grace … thynkis nedfull I be promovyt to that seyt quhilk now is vacand 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 17.
[The council] fynds it neidfull that ane wawpounschawing be proclamit(3) 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 75.
Thai sall haue power to big alsmekle as thai think speidfull and neidfull 1562 Will A. Betoun 226.
Gife they think it neidfull 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 558.
The same [loch] to dame in or latt furth swa oft as thai sall think neidfull