devoir

de·voir  (dv-wär, dvwär)

n.

1. An act or expression of respect or courtesy; civility. Often used in the plural: pay one's devoirs.

2. Duty or responsibility.

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[Middle English, duty, from Old French, from devoir, to owe, from Latin dbre; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

devoir - formal expression of respect civility, politeness - the act of showing regard for others