— dueness , n.
/dooh, dyooh/ , adj.
1. owed at present; having reached the date for payment: This bill is due.
2. owing or owed, irrespective of whether the time of payment has arrived: This bill is due next month.
3. owing or observed as a moral or natural right.
4. rightful; proper; fitting: due care; in due time.
5. adequate; sufficient: a due margin for delay.
6. under engagement as to time; expected to be ready, be present, or arrive; scheduled: The plane is due at noon.
7. due to ,
a. attributable to; ascribable to: The delay was due to heavy traffic.
b. because of; owing to: All planes are grounded due to fog.
n.
8. something that is due, owed, or naturally belongs to someone.
9. Usually, dues . a regular fee or charge payable at specific intervals, esp. to a group or organization: membership dues.
10. give someone his or her due ,
a. to give what justice demands; treat fairly: Even though he had once cheated me, I tried to give him his due.
b. to credit a disliked or dishonorable person for something that is likable, honorable, or the like.
11. pay one's dues , to earn respect, a position, or a right by hard work, sacrifice, or experience: She's a famous musician now, but she paid her dues with years of practice and performing in small towns.
adv.
12. directly or exactly: a due east course.
13. Obs. duly.
[ 1275-1325; ME deu, ptp. of devoir debere to owe; see DEBT ]
Usage. 7. DUE TO as a prepositional phrase meaning "because of, owing to" has been in use since the 14th century: Due to the sudden rainstorm, the picnic was moved indoors. Some object to this use on the grounds that DUE is historically an adjective and thus should be used only predicatively in constructions like The delay was due to electrical failure. Despite such objections, DUE TO occurs commonly as a compound preposition and is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.
Pronunciation . See new .