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Added 9 October 2026

require

/ɹɪˈkwaɪə/ verb

Latin root: requīrō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about require at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Require as useful, just, or proper.
It takes nerve to do what she did
Consider obligatory; request and expect.
We require our secretary to be on time
Make someone do something.

Origin

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).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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