nephelē, cloud, mist.]

Necessary, nes′es-sar-i, adj. that must be: that cannot be otherwise: unavoidable: indispensable: under compulsion: not free.—n. that which cannot be left out or done without (food, &c.)—used chiefly in pl.: a privy.—ns. Necessā′rian, one who holds the doctrine of necessity; Necessā′rianism, the doctrine that the will is not free, but subject to causes without, which determine its action.—adv. Nec′essarily.—n. Nec′essariness, the state or quality of being necessary.—Necessary truths, such as cannot but be true. [Fr.,—L. necessarius.]

Necessity, ne-ses′i-ti, n. state or quality of being necessary: that which is necessary or unavoidable: compulsion: great need: poverty.—ns. Necessitā′rian; Necessitā′rianism, necessarianism.—v.t. Necess′itāte, to make necessary: to render unavoidable: to compel.—n. Necessitā′tion.—adjs. Necess′itied (Shak.), in a state of want; Necess′itous, in necessity: very poor: destitute.—adv. Necess′itously.—n. Necess′itousness.—Natural necessity, the condition of being necessary according to the laws of nature; Logical or Mathematical, according to those of human intelligence; Moral, according to those of moral law; Works of necessity, work so necessary as to be allowable on the Sabbath. [L. necessitas.]

Neck, nek, n. the part of an animal's body between the head and trunk: anything that resembles the neck: a long narrow part or corner: (fig.) life: the flesh of the neck and adjoining parts.—v.t. to break the neck or cut off the head.—ns. Neck′atee, a neckerchief; Neck′-band, the part of a shirt encircling the neck; Neck′-bear′ing, that part of a shaft which rotates in the bearing proper, a journal; Neck′beef, the coarse flesh of the neck of cattle; Neck′cloth, a piece of folded cloth worn round the neck by men as a band or cravat, the ends hanging down often of lace.—adj. Necked, having a neck of a certain kind.—ns. Neck′erchief, a kerchief for the neck; Neck′lace, a lace or string of beads or precious stones worn on the neck by women; Neck′let, a simple form of necklace; Neck′-mould, a small moulding surrounding a column at the junction of the shaft and capital; Neck′-piece, the part of a suit of armour that protects the neck: an ornamental frill round the neck of a gown; Neck′tie, a tie or cloth for the neck; Neck′verse, the verse (usually Ps. li. 1) in early times placed before a prisoner claiming benefit-of-clergy, in order to test his ability to read, which, if he could do, he was burned in the hand and set free (see Benefit).—n. Stiff′neck (see Stiff).—Neck and crop, completely; Neck and neck, exactly equal: side by side; Neck or nothing, risking everything.—Harden the neck, to grow more obstinate; Tread on the neck of, to oppress or tyrannise over. [A.S. hnecca; Ger. nacken.]

Necrolatry, nek-rol′a-tri, n. worship of the dead.—ns. Necrobiō′sis, degeneration of living tissue; Necrog′rapher, one who writes an obituary notice.—adjs. Necrolog′ic, -al, pertaining to necrology.—ns. Necrol′ogist, one who gives an account of deaths; Necrol′ogy, an account of those who have died, esp. of the members of some society: a register of deaths; Nec′romancer, one who practises necromancy: a sorcerer; Nec′romancy, the art of revealing future events by calling up and questioning the spirits of the dead: enchantment.—adjs. Necroman′tic, -al, pertaining to necromancy: performed by necromancy.—adv. Necroman′tically.—adj. Necroph′agous, feeding on carrion.—ns. Necroph′ilism, a morbid love for the dead; Necrophō′bia, a morbid horror of corpses.—adj. Necroph′orous, carrying away and burying dead bodies, esp. of beetles of the genus Necrophorus.—n. Necrop′olis, a cemetery.—adjs. Necroscop′ic, -al.—n. Nec′roscopy, a post-mortem examination, autopsy—also Nec′ropsy.—adjs. Necrosed′, Necrō′tic.—ns. Necrō′sis, the mortification of bone: (bot.) a disease of plants marked by small black spots; Necrot′omist; Necrot′omy, dissection of dead bodies. [Gr. nekros, dead.]