Main Entry: ¹du·ty

Pronunciation: \ˈdü-tē also ˈdyü-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural duties

Etymology: Middle English duete, from Anglo-French deueté, dueté, from deu due

Date: 13th century

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; especially : 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 duty out of the trip> (3) : use as a substitute <making the word do duty for the thing — Edward Sapir>

synonyms see function, task

— off duty : free from assignment or responsibility

— on duty : engaged in or responsible for an assigned task or duty