From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
demand
n 1: an urgent or peremptory request; "his demands for attention
were unceasing"
2: the ability and desire to purchase goods and services; "the
automobile reduced the demand for buggywhips"; "the demand
exceeded the supply" [ant: supply]
3: required activity; "the requirements of his work affected his
health"; "there were many demands on his time" [syn:
requirement, demand]
4: the act of demanding; "the kidnapper's exorbitant demands for
money"
5: a condition requiring relief; "she satisfied his need for
affection"; "God has no need of men to accomplish His work";
"there is a demand for jobs" [syn: need, demand]
v 1: request urgently and forcefully; "The victim's family is
demanding compensation"; "The boss demanded that he be
fired immediately"; "She demanded to see the manager"
2: require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do
what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This
job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands
a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a
spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a
patient's consent" [syn: necessitate, ask, postulate,
need, require, take, involve, call for, demand]
[ant: eliminate, obviate, rid of]
3: claim as due or just; "The bank demanded payment of the loan"
[syn: demand, exact]
4: lay legal claim to
5: summon to court
6: ask to be informed of; "I demand an explanation"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Demand \De*mand"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demanded; p. pr. & vb.
n. Demanding.] [F. demander, LL. demandare to demand,
summon, send word, fr. L. demandare to give in charge,
intrust; de- + mandare to commit to one's charge, commission,
order, command. Cf. Mandate, Commend.]
1. To ask or call for with authority; to claim or seek from,
as by authority or right; to claim, as something due; to
call for urgently or peremptorily; as, to demand a debt;
to demand obedience.
[1913 Webster]
This, in our foresaid holy father's name,
Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee. --Shak.
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2. To inquire authoritatively or earnestly; to ask, esp. in a
peremptory manner; to question.
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I did demand what news from Shrewsbury. --Shak.
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3. To require as necessary or useful; to be in urgent need
of; hence, to call for; as, the case demands care.
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4. (Law) To call into court; to summon. --Burrill.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Demand \De*mand"\, v. i.
To make a demand; to inquire.
[1913 Webster]
The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what
shall we do? --Luke iii.
14.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Demand \De*mand"\, n. [F. demande, fr. demander. See Demand,
v. t.]
1. The act of demanding; an asking with authority; a
peremptory urging of a claim; a claiming or challenging as
due; requisition; as, the demand of a creditor; a note
payable on demand.
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The demand [is] by the word of the holy ones. --Dan.
iv. 17.
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He that has confidence to turn his wishes into
demands will be but a little way from thinking he
ought to obtain them. --Locke.
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2. Earnest inquiry; question; query. --Shak.
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3. A diligent seeking or search; manifested want; desire to
possess; request; as, a demand for certain goods; a
person's company is in great demand.
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In 1678 came forth a second edition [Pilgrim's
Progress] with additions; and then the demand became
immense. --Macaulay.
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4. That which one demands or has a right to demand; thing
claimed as due; claim; as, demands on an estate.
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5. (Law)
(a) The asking or seeking for what is due or claimed as
due.
(b) The right or title in virtue of which anything may be
claimed; as, to hold a demand against a person.
(c) A thing or amount claimed to be due.
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In demand, in request; being much sought after.
On demand, upon presentation and request of payment.
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