1.want, need; hence desire, longing, urgent wish, Hom.; ἦ τι μάλα χρεώ of a truth something is much needed, Il.; χρειοῖ ἀναγκαίῃ by dire necessity, id=Il.; c. gen., χρειὼ ἐμεῖο want, need of me, Hom.
2.χρειὼ ἱκάνεται want, necessity arises, id=Hom.; so, χρειὼ γίγνεται Il.; τίπτε δέ σε χρειὼ δεῦρ᾽ ἤγαγε; Od.
3.χρ. ἱκάνει τινά comes upon him, ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς (sc. τῆς νηός) need of the ship comes upon me, Il.; οὐδέ τί μιν χρεὼ ἔσται τυμβοχοῆς nor will need of a grave be felt by him, id=Il.
4.hence the elliptical use of χρεώ c. acc. pers., τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ (sc. ἱκάνει); Hom.; c. gen. rei, οὔτι με ταύτης χρεὼ τιμῆς need of it touches me not, Il.; χρεὼ βουλῆς ἐμὲ καὶ σέ id=Il.;—also c. inf., τὸν χρεὼ ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς he needs must stand firm, id=Il.; οὐδέ τί μιν χρεὼ νηῶν ἐπιβαινέμεν Od.
χρέω in Hom. is a monosyll.
