devoir

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“
Sir, of your valliance you should have held to your good vow,--quoth the damozel, for now you see me sore perplexed and that you did not your devoir is my affliction.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun An act or expression of respect or courtesy; civility. Often used in the plural: pay one's devoirs.
  2. noun Duty or responsibility.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • It is almost as frigid as a devoir written under M. Heger's eye. —  The Three Brontes
  • This aroused earnest debate, Captain Mahan insisting upon the omission of the word "devoir," and Dr. Holls defending the article as reported by the subcommittee, of which he is a member, and contending that the peculiar interests of America could be protected by a reservation. —  Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, V2
  • Among other things, he gave us a very long disquisition on the meaning of "devoir" as it stands in the article—a disquisition which showed that the Jesuits are not the only skilful casuists in the world I then presented my project of a declaration of the American doctrine to be made by us on signing. —  Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, V2
  • "Sin" was the word for "debt" in all Indo-European languages: Schuld (the root of German sollen and English should), and devoir, the root of English debt. —  Sydney Indymedia - Comments
  • L enfer du devoir - S01E01 - Commando Vietnam. mkv —  all torrents rss feed
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This word has been looked up 131 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, duty, from Old French, from devoir, to owe, from Latin dēbēre; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. French, duty, from devoir, infinitive, owe, be obliged, from Latin debere, owe, be obliged: see debt. Cf. dever, earlier form of the same word.
 

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/dɛvˈwɑr/
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