▪ I. devoir, n.
(see below)
Forms: α. 3–6 dever, (4 deverre), 4–5 devere, (5 deveer, -yr, -ire, -yer, deyver, deffere, 6 debuer). β. 4–6 devor, 4–7 devour, 5 divour, 5–6 devoure, 5–7 Sc. devore, 6–7 deavour. γ. 5– devoir, 5–7 devoire, devoyr(e, devoyer, 6–7 devoier.
[ME. dever, a. OF. deveir (= Pr. dever, Sp. deber, It. devere, dovere), substantive use of pres. inf. of verb:—L. dēbēre to owe. In Eng. the stress was shifted from (dɛˈvɛːr) to (ˈdɛvər, ˈdɛːvər), and this subsequently often spelt devour, devor, deavour: cf. endeavour. In the 15th c., and esp. by Caxton, the spelling was often conformed to Parisian Fr. devoir, though, even thus, the stress was still often on the first syllable, ˈdevoir being treated merely as a variant spelling of ˈdevor, ˈdevour. ˈDever occurs as late as the Psalms of Sternhold and Hopkins; but the English tradition of the word died out before 1600, leaving devoir, in 16–17th c. often anglicized as devoyer, but now commonly treated as if adopted from modern French, and pronounced (dəˈvwɑː(r), dəˈvwɔː(r), ˈdɛvwɔː(r)); though it would be more correct, historically, to pronounce it (ˈdɛvə(r)) as in endeavour.]
1. That which one ought to do, or has to do; (one's) duty, business, appointed task. (Chiefly in phr. to do one's devoir). arch.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 21901 (Cott.) All liueand thing on sere maners dos þair deuer [v.r. deuerre]. c 1315 Shoreham 54 And ȝyf hy [clerkes] douth wel hare dever Ine thysse heritage. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 71 Als knyght did his deuere [rime austere]. c 1400 Destr. Troy 234 Do þi deuer duly as a duke nobill. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. xli. (1869) 25 To do alwey my deueer. 1462 Daubeney in Paston Lett. No. 452 II. 103 The Lords..thynk they do ryght well her devyer, and be worthey moche thanke of the Kyng. |
| β 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 136 Til he haue done his deuor and his dayes iourne. a 1470 Tiptoft Cæsar iv. (1530) 5 Doyng the devoure of myne offyce. 1489 Barbour Bruce (MS.) xi. 430 Thai stalwardly sall stand, And do thair deuour as thai aw. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 35 Do your devore and dewtie. a 1605 Montgomerie Flyting 443 Whan thae dames deuoutly had done their devore..Of that matter to make remained no more. 1606 Holland Sueton. 56 In the Cirque he brought forth to doe their devour Charioteers, Runners and Killers of savage beasts. |
| γ a 1430 Chaucer Man of Law's T. (MS.) Head-link 38 (Ellesm.), Thanne haue ye do your deuoir atte leeste [so Hengwrt, devoire Petw., deuer Corp. & Lansd., deuyr Camb., deuour Harl.]. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 29 He faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxix. 236 And Drurie deulie did his ful deuoir. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 90 Democles commanded the deathsman to doo his devoyre. 1608 L. Machin Dumbe Knight i, What devoyre Drawes you within these lists? 1682 N. O. Boileau's Lutrin ii. 16 The Rhine shall first his streams mix with the Loire, E're I forget the sence of my Devoire. 1738 Warburton Div. Legat. I. 28 Exactly perform to one another the Devoirs of Citizens. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth viii, I think the Knight of Kinfauns will do his devoir by the burgh in peace or war. 1875 W. S. Hayward Love agst. World 37 Did my worthy brother do his devoir as a gallant knight should? |
† 2. That which one can do, (one's) utmost or best; endeavour, effort. Chiefly in
phr. to do one's devoir,
to put oneself in devoir = to do what one can, to endeavour (
to do something).
Obs.| α 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xii. 2, I have do my deuer þe dowel to teche. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 659 in Babees Bk. (1868) 162 Þus y shalle do my devere To enforme yow. 1482–8 Plumpton Corr. 59, I shall put me in dever to fullfill your intent. 1537 T. Cumptun in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 91, I have..don my debuer accordyng to the teneur of hit. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Ps. xxii. 26 And those that doe their deuer To know the Lord shall prayse his name. |
| β c 1400 Song Roland 498 Trist us neuer If we in this mater do not our deuour. 1451 Paston Lett. No. 114 I. 154, I..wol put me in devour for to execute your comaundements. 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 240 Lerne of me and do thy besy deuor From my folke al rauen to disseuor. 1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 66/2 He woold doe his vttermost deuor to set the realm in good state. 1533 ― Answ. Poysoned Bk. ibid. 1072/2 Wening that his owne deuour wer in vaine. 1664 Flodden F. iii. 22 Your deavours here are all in vain. |
| γ 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xxiii, I am moche beholdynge vnto that knyght, that hath put soo his body in deuoyre to worshippe me and my courte. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) II. 251 Doynge his deuoyr for the same ay to prouyde. c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden 1844) 15 The Duke of Bedford exhorted them to defend with all their devoire the dignitie and high reputation of King Henry. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. ii. Prol., May we be happie in our weake devoyer. 1671 A. Behn Forc'd Marriage i. iv, No, my Erminia, quit this vain devoir, And follow Love that may preserve us all. |
† 3. Service due or rendered to any one.
Obs.| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. (MSS. after 1400) ¶690 (Ellesm.), As Reson is and skile it is that men do hir deuoir ther as it is due [v. rr. deuoire, devoyre, deuere, deuyr]. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) ii. v. 98 Yf..she yeldeth the deuoure of maryage ayenst her wyll. 1590 Marlowe Edw. II, v. i, To do your highness service and devoir.. Berkeley would die. 1642 Chas. I in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 633 [They] shall in no wise be excused of their Service and Devoiers due of their said Lands and Possessions. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 46 It may be wondred why the French did not assist us..the reality is, they offered their Devoirs, but we must equip their Ships. 1742 Young Nt. Th. vi. 292 Monarchs, and ministers, are aweful names; Whoever wear them, challenge our devoir. |
4. A dutiful act of civility or respect; usually in
pl., dutiful respects, courteous attentions, addresses; chiefly in
phr. to do or pay one's devoir(s (to some one). (The current sense.)
| α, β 14.. Epiph. in Tundale's Vis. 107 That he hym selffe [Herod] wold after goo Vnto the chyld and hys deyver doo. a 1845 Hood Faithless Nelly Gray iv, He went to pay her his devours, When he'd devoured his pay! |
| γ 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 655 This royall maryage was solempnysed..Theyr frendes, cosyns redy on euery syde To do theyr deuoyre. 1669 Dryden Wild Gallant iv. i, I beseech your ladyship instruct me where I may tender my devoirs. 1673 ― Marr. à la Mode ii. i, O, my dear, I was just going to pay my devoirs to you. 1676 Shadwell Virtuoso i. i, He's come to pay his devoir to you. 1754 Richardson Grandison Let. 14 Oct., I am come down to pay my devoirs to Miss Byron. I hope for acceptance. 1782 European Mag. I. 248 She..resisted the devoirs of the tender and pious Lord George Gordon. 1816 J. Scott Vis. Paris 37 In the inn-yards of our great North-road, when the passing coachmen pay their devoirs to the expectant chambermaids. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 141 When he paid devoir To Louis Quatorze as he dined in state. 1880 Disraeli Endym. lxiv, Prince Florestan paid his grave devoirs, with a gaze which seemed to search into Lady Roehampton's inmost heart. |
† 5. pl. Moneys due; dues; duties.
Obs.| [1360 Act 34 Edw. III, c. 18 Paiant lour custumes & autres devoirs au Roi. 1378 Act 2 Rich. II, Stat 1 c. 3 Custumes, subsides et autres devoirs de Calays.] 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 125 The said William Herris sued a plee from the courte Xp̄ian too the court of Rome in a cause of deuors hanging bewixt oon Alis Doughtirlawe of R. S. and the said William. 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 27 §1 The Kinges duetie called the devours or Custume of Calays. 1641 Termes de la Ley 116 b, [tr. quot. 1378] Customes and subsidies, and other devoires of Caleis. |
† 6. A school exercise or piece of home-work.
Obs.| c 1845 C. Brontë Professor (1857) I. xvi. 264 One day I gave, as a devoir, the trite little anecdote of Alfred tending cakes..to be related with amplifications. Ibid. 270, I made a report of the other devoirs. 1849 ― Shirley III. iv. 100 Were the faults of that devoir..grammatical errors, or did you object to the substance? 1857 Mrs. Gaskell Let. 13 Aug. (1966) 464, I should be glad if some one would look over the French dévoirs [sic], please. |
▪ II. † devoir, v. Obs. rare.
In 6
dever,
devoyre.
[f. prec. n.] intr. and refl. = endeavour v.
| 1530 Palsgr. 514/2 I dever, I applye my mynde to do a thing..I shall devoyre my selfe to the best that I maye. |