DUTY

I. noun (plural duties) Etymology: Middle English duete, from Anglo-French deueté, dueté, from deu due Date: 13th century conduct due to parents and superiors ; respect , 2. obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group), b. assigned service or business, active military service, a period of being on ~, 3. a moral or legal obligation, the force of moral obligation, tax , 5. work 1a, b. the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions, functional application ; use , use as a substitute , see: function II. adjective Date: 1806 done as a ~, being on ~ ; assigned to specified tasks or functions