I.use, advantage, service, Theogn., Plat.; τὰ οὐδὲν εἰς χρείαν things of no use or service, Dem.; χρείαν ἐρευνᾶν, v. ἐρευνάω 1: —pl. services, Pind., Dem.
2.as an action, using, use, κτῆσις καὶ χρ. having and using, Xen., Plat.; πρὸς τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην χρ. Xen.
II.like Lat. opus, need, want, necessity, Aesch., etc.; ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν χρείας considering in what great need we are, Soph.; χρείᾳ πολεμεῖν to war with necessity, id=Soph.:—c. gen. want or lack of a thing, Aesch., etc.; ἐν χρείᾳ δορός in the need or stress of war, Soph.; χρεία ἐστί [γίγνεταί] μοι τινός, Lat. opus est mihi aliqua re, Plat.; ἔτι μου χρείαν ἕξει will have need of my help, Aesch.; ἐν χρείᾳ εἶναί or γίγνεσθαί τινος Plat.; pl., αἱ τοῦ σώματος χρ. Xen.; αἱ ἀναγκαῖαι χρ. Dem.
2.the result of need, want, poverty, Soph., Eur.
3.a request of necessity, opp. to ἀξίωσις (a claim of merit), Thuc.: generally, a request, Aesch.
4.a needful business, a need, requirement, ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας; for what purpose? Soph.; ἡ πολεμικὴ χρ. καὶ ἡ εἰρηνική the requirements of war and of peace, Arist.
5.generally, a business, employment, Polyb., NTest.
