Definition of the word have to

The origin of the phrase "have to" can be traced back to the late 16th century when it was formed by combining the verb "have" with the past participle of "to do," which was "don." In Middle English, "don" was used as both a past participle and a present tense form of the verb "do," i.e., "don" meant "does" or "did." Over time, this usage became simplified, and "done" replaced "don" in its role as a past participle. However, in the late 16th century, a new expression called "born to" arose, where "born" was used as an auxiliary verb with the past participle of "do" (just like "have" is used today). This expression fell out of favor, and its auxiliary verb "born" eventually disappeared, but the compound verb "have to" established itself as a popular alternative to "must." Today, "have to" is commonly used to express a degree of necessity or obligation, and is preferred when the focus is on the action that needs to be done rather than on the person doing it. Its usage has spread beyond English, appearing in various forms and variations in other Germanic languages such as Frisian, Dutch, and German. In summary, "have to" as we know it today evolved from the Middle English past participle "don" that was short-lived in its role as an auxiliary verb, but which paved the way for the formation of "have to."