n.
Pronunciation: d ə - ' vwär, ' de- ˌ
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of Middle English dever, devoir, from Anglo-French, from deveir, devoer to owe, be obliged, from Latin deb ē re ― more at DEBT
Date: 14th century
1 : DUTY , RESPONSIBILITY
2 : a usually formal act of civility or respect