Duty Definition
do͝otē, dyo͝o-
duties
noun
duties
The obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
Webster's New World
Required action or service.
Jury duty; beyond the call of duty.
American Heritage
Any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position.
The duties of a secretary.
Webster's New World
Conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety.
One's duty to vote.
Webster's New World
Service, esp. military service.
Overseas duty.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- levy
- tax
- tariff
- impost
- assessment
- custom
- revenue
- charge
- obligation
- responsibility
- at work
- inward monitor
- still small voice
- the hell within
- bounden duty
Antonyms:
- pleasure
- sport
- amusement
- entertainment
- disloyalty
- irresponsibility
- disregard
- inconstancy
- treachery
- faithlessness
- sport. See syn. study at function.function
idiom
duty bound
- Obliged:
You are duty bound to help your little sister and brother.
American Heritage
off duty
- Not engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
American Heritage
on duty
- Engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
American Heritage
do duty for
- to substitute for; serve as
Webster's New World
on (<i>or</i> off) duty
- officially engaged (or not officially engaged) in one's duties
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Duty
Noun
Singular:
dutyPlural:
dutiesOrigin of Duty
-
From Middle English duete, from Old French deu (“due”), past participle of devoir (“to owe”), from Latin debere (“to owe”), from de (“from”) + habere (“to have”).
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English duete from Anglo-Norman from due variant of Old French deu due due
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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