3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Duty  \Du"ty\,  n.;  pl  {Duties}.  [From  {Due}.] 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  duty 
  n  1:  work  that  you  are  obliged  to  perform  for  moral  or  legal 
  reasons:  "the  duties  of  the  job" 
  2:  the  social  force  that  binds  you  to  your  obligations  and  the 
  courses  of  action  demanded  by  that  force:  "we  must  instill 
  a  sense  of  duty  in  our  children";  "every  right  implies  a 
  responsibility;  every  opportunity,  an  obligation;  every 
  possession,  a  duty"-  John  D.Rockefeller  Jr  [syn:  {responsibility}, 
  {obligation}] 
  3:  a  government  tax  on  imports  or  exports;  "they  signed  a 
  treaty  to  lower  duties  on  trade  between  their  countries" 
  [syn:  {tariff}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  DUTY,  n.  That  which  sternly  impels  us  in  the  direction  of  profit, 
  along  the  line  of  desire. 
 
  Sir  Lavender  Portwine  in  favor  at  court, 
  Was  wroth  at  his  master,  who'd  kissed  Lady  Port. 
  His  anger  provoked  him  to  take  the  king's  head, 
  But  duty  prevailed,  and  he  took  the  king's  bread, 
  Instead. 
  G.J. 
 
 
  E 
 
 
 

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