duty
UK[ˈdjuːti]US[ˈduːti]
n
A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility.
n
A task or action that someone is required to perform.
n
A payment levied by the government on imports, exports, or manufactured goods.
Etymology
The word 'duty' entered English in the late 13th century from the Anglo-French 'dueté', meaning a debt, obligation, or due payment. This term itself evolved from Old French 'deu', meaning 'owed' or 'due', which traces back to the Latin past participle 'debitus', from the verb 'debere' meaning 'to owe'. The core semantic thread from Latin to modern English is the concept of something that is owed, whether it be a moral debt, a required service, or a financial levy. Over time, the meaning broadened from a concrete financial debt to encompass abstract moral and legal responsibilities, solidifying its place as a fundamental term for obligation.
Analysis
The word 'duty' is a simplex word derived from the Anglo-French 'dueté'. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes in its modern English spelling.
Examples
It is every citizen's duty to vote.
The soldier was assigned guard duty.
You must pay customs duty on imported goods over a certain value.