[du.ty] n, pl duties [ME duete, fr. AF duete, fr. OF deu due] (13c) 1: conduct due to parents and superiors: respect
2. a: obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1): assigned service or business (2): active military service (3): a period of being on duty 3 a: a moral or legal obligation b: the force of moral obligation
4: tax; esp: a tax on imports
5. a: work 1a b (1): the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions (2): functional application: use "got double ~ out of the trip" (3): use as a substitute "making the word do ~ for the thing --Edward Sapir" syn see function, task -- off duty : free from assignment or responsibility -- on duty : engaged in or responsible for an assigned task or duty
[2]duty adj (1806) 1: done as a duty
2: being on duty: assigned to specified tasks or functions "the ~ officer"