01 n. That which is due; payment.
pl.
Duties ((#))
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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.
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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.
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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.
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4.
Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and superiors.
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5.
Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage.
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6.
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).(Engin.)
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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.(Com.)
Phrases & compounds
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.