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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Demand

De-mānd', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DEMANDED; p. pr. & vb. n. DEMANDING.] [Fr. demander, Pr., Sp., & Pg. demandar, It. demandare, demandare, L. Lat. demandare, to demand or intrust, Lat. demandare, to give in charge, to intrust, from de and mandare, to commit to one's charge, to commission, order, command.] 1. To ask or call for, as one who has a claim, right, or power to enforce the claim; to call for urgently or peremptorily; to press or sue a claim to; to make requisition of; as, to demand a debt, or obedience. This is our 'foresaid father's holy name, Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee. Shak. 2. To inquire earnestly or authoritatively; to ask; to question. Of him I did demand what news. Shak.

  1. To require as necessary or useful; to be in urgent need of; hence, to call for; as, the case demands great care; to demand the price of goods.
  2. (Law.) To call into court; to summon. “Although solemnly demanded, comes not.” Burrill.

De-mănd', v. i.

verbintransitive

To make a demand; to ask; to inquire. The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? Luke iii. 14.

De-mānd', n.

noun

n. [Fr. demande, Pr., Sp., & Pg. demanda, It. dimanda, domanda. See supra.] 1. The act of demanding; an asking with authority; a peremptory urging of a claim; a challenging as due; requisition; exaction; as, the demand of a creditor; a note payable on demand. He that has confidence to turn his wishes into demands, will be but a little way from thinking he ought to obtain them. Locke.

  1. Earnest inquiry; question; query.
  2. A diligent seeking or search; manifested want; request; as, a demand for certain goods; a person's company is in great demand.

In 1678 came forth a second edition [of the Pilgrim's Progress] with additions, and then the demand became immense. Macaulay.

  1. That which one demands or has a right to demand; thing claimed; claim; as, demands on an estate; high demands for goods.
  2. (Law.) (a.) The asking or seeking for what is due or claimed as due. (b.) A thing or amount claimed to be due.

In demand, in request; in a state of being much sought after.—On demand, upon presentation and request of payment.