devoir

[ duh-vwahr, dev-wahr; French duh-vwar ]

/ dəˈvwɑr, ˈdɛv wɑr; French dəˈvwar /

an act of civility or respect.

devoirs, respects or compliments.

something for which a person is responsible; duty.

Origin of devoir

1250–1300; Middle English devoir, deveir, dever < Old French devoir (Anglo-French deveir, dever) < Latin dēbēre to owe; cf. debt

I pay my devoirs to the lady, ha, ha—I owe her much—I pay you both back with one stroke, one grand stroke.

Lords of the North |A. C. Laut
For my own part, I suppose I must in all justice forgive your paying your devoirs here before you came to visit even me.

Richelieu, v. 3/3 |G. P. R. James
The first object of Augustus on returning to town was to hasten and pay his devoirs to his intended.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 1, November 6, 1841, |Various
The devoirs had strange names indicating the legends with which the origins of these organizations were connected.

Syndicalism in France |Louis Levine

Agnes will continue incurably heart-broken, til some new lover pays his devoirs, and then you will understand her better, Marion.

Modern Flirtations |Catherine Sinclair

devoirs

/ (dəˈvwɑː, French dəvwar) /

(sometimes singular) compliments or respects; courteous attentions

C13: from Old French: duty, from devoir to be obliged to, owe, from Latin dēbēre; see debt