devoir
[noun]
Synonyms: obligation, charge, commitment, committal, duty, must, need, ought, right, task, assignment, chare, chore, job, stint

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

devoir noun. [dǝ'vwɑ:] arch. ME.
[Anglo-Norman dever, Old French deveir (mod. devoir) from Latin debere owe. Cf. ENDEAVOUR.]
1. Duty; a dutiful act. Chiefly in do one's devoir. ME.

2. One's best or utmost, an effort. LME-L17.
put oneself in devoir [after French ce mettre en devoir do one's utmost.]

3. (A) service due or rendered. LME-M18.

4. An act of civility. Usu. in pl., courteous or formal attentions. LME.
■ A. Seager He paid his devoirs to his hostess and went..into the dining room.

5. In pl. Moneys due, dues. LME-M17.

► The mod. French spelling was introduced in 15 and the pronunc. was subsequently conformed to it.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲