Dût (en. Had to)

/dyt/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates an obligation or necessity in the past.

He hoped that she must accompany him.

Il espérait qu'elle dût l'accompagner.

Used in literary constructions to talk about a past duty.

She knew that she must make sacrifices.

Elle savait qu'elle dût faire des sacrifices.

From the verb 'to owe' from Latin 'debere'.

it is necessary that

expression indicating necessity, often synonymous with 'must'

il faut que

you had to

indicates a past obligation

tu devais

it should have

used to express regret or an unfulfilled obligation

cela aurait dû

duty

obligation, necessity or responsibility.

devoir

to be necessary

to be necessary.

falloir

due

past participle of 'to owe'.

dû

Imperceptible obligation

He seemed to owe it more than he desired.

Il avait l'air de le devoir plus qu'il ne le désirait.

Social pressure

She felt that she must integrate into the group.

Elle sentait qu'elle dût s'intégrer dans le groupe.