DEVOIR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does devoir mean? 

• DEVOIR (noun)
  The noun DEVOIR has 1 sense:

1. formal expression of respect

  Familiarity information: DEVOIR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVOIR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Formal expression of respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("devoir" is a kind of...):

civility; politeness (the act of showing regard for others)

 Context examples 

But your devoir—your oath of fealty?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Catherine, by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected, received her brother with the liveliest pleasure; and he, being of a very amiable disposition, and sincerely attached to her, gave every proof on his side of equal satisfaction, which he could have leisure to do, while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notice; and to her his devoirs were speedily paid, with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which might have informed Catherine, had she been more expert in the development of other people's feelings, and less simply engrossed by her own, that her brother thought her friend quite as pretty as she could do herself.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It is easy, lady, for a man to ride forth in the light of day, and do his devoir when all men have eyes for him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is when the brave soldier hath done his devoir that he hopes for his reward.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You will have leisure, therefore, if it please you to take service under me, in which to learn your devoir.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By Saint Paul! friends, we have fought a very honorable fight, and may say in all humbleness that we have done our devoir, but I think that we may now go back to the Lady Tiphaine and say our orisons, for we have played our parts in this world, and it is time that we made ready for another.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By St. Paul, there are men so caitiff that they think more of a scrivener's pen than of their lady's smile, and do their devoir in hopes that they may fill a line in a chronicle or make a tag to a jongleur's romance.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)