Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Duty
1.
That which is due; payment.
[Obs. as signifying a material thing.]
When thou receivest money for thy labor or ware, thou receivest thy
duty
. Tyndale.
2.
That which a person is bound by moral obligation to do, or refrain from doing; that which one ought to do; service morally obligatory.
Forgetting his
duty
toward God, his sovereign lord, and his country. Hallam.
3.
Hence, any assigned service or business;
as, the
duties
of a policeman, or a soldier; to be on duty
.With records sweet of
duties
done. Keble.
To employ him on the hardest and most imperative
duty
. Hallam.
Duty
is a graver term than obligation. A duty
hardly exists to do trivial things; but there may be an obligation to do them. C. J. Smith.
4.
Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and superiors.
Shak.
5.
Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage.
“My duty to you.” Shak.
6.
(Engin.)
The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam pumping engine, as measured by work done by a certain quantity of fuel; usually, the number of pounds of water lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94 lbs. old standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs., United States).
7.
(Com.)
Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods.
☞ An impost on land or other real estate, and on the stock of farmers, is not called a duty, but a direct tax.
[U.S.]
Ad valorem duty
, a duty which is graded according to the cost, or market value, of the article taxed. See
– Ad valorem
. Specific duty
, a duty of a specific sum assessed on an article without reference to its value or market.
– On duty
, actually engaged in the performance of one’s assigned task.
Webster 1828 Edition
Duty
DUTY
,Noun.
1.
That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform. Obedience to princes, magistrates and the laws is the duty of every citizen and subject; obedience, respect and kindness to parents are duties of children; fidelity to friends is a duty; reverence, obedience and prayer to God are indispensable duties; the government and religious instruction of children are duties of parents which they cannot neglect without guilt.2.
Forbearance of that which is forbid by morality, law, justice or propriety. It is our duty to refrain from lewdness, intemperance, profaneness and injustice.3.
Obedience; submission.4.
Act of reverence or respect.They both did duty to their lady.
5.
The business of a soldier or marine on guard; as, the company is on duty. It is applied also to other services or labor.6.
The business of war; military service; as, the regiment did duty in Flanders.7.
Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods. An impost on land or other real estate, and on the stock of farmers, is not called a duty, but a direct tax.