| 释义 |
▪ 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.
αa1300Cursor M. 21901 (Cott.) All liueand thing on sere maners dos þair deuer [v.r. deuerre]. c1315Shoreham 54 And ȝyf hy [clerkes] douth wel hare dever Ine thysse heritage. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 71 Als knyght did his deuere [rime austere]. c1400Destr. Troy 234 Do þi deuer duly as a duke nobill. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. xli. (1869) 25 To do alwey my deueer. 1462Daubeney in Paston Lett. No. 452 II. 103 The Lords..thynk they do ryght well her devyer, and be worthey moche thanke of the Kyng.
β1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 136 Til he haue done his deuor and his dayes iourne. a1470Tiptoft Cæsar iv. (1530) 5 Doyng the devoure of myne offyce. 1489Barbour Bruce (MS.) xi. 430 Thai stalwardly sall stand, And do thair deuour as thai aw. 1552Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 35 Do your devore and dewtie. a1605Montgomerie Flyting 443 Whan thae dames deuoutly had done their devore..Of that matter to make remained no more. 1606Holland Sueton. 56 In the Cirque he brought forth to doe their devour Charioteers, Runners and Killers of savage beasts.
γa1430Chaucer 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.]. 1485Caxton Chas. Gt. 29 He faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr. 1573Satir. Poems Reform. xxxix. 236 And Drurie deulie did his ful deuoir. 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 90 Democles commanded the deathsman to doo his devoyre. 1608L. Machin Dumbe Knight i, What devoyre Drawes you within these lists? 1682N. 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. 1738Warburton Div. Legat. I. 28 Exactly perform to one another the Devoirs of Citizens. 1828Scott F.M. Perth viii, I think the Knight of Kinfauns will do his devoir by the burgh in peace or war. 1875W. 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.
α1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xii. 2, I have do my deuer þe dowel to teche. c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 659 in Babees Bk. (1868) 162 Þus y shalle do my devere To enforme yow. 1482–8Plumpton Corr. 59, I shall put me in dever to fullfill your intent. 1537T. Cumptun in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 91, I have..don my debuer accordyng to the teneur of hit. 1549–62Sternhold & H. Ps. xxii. 26 And those that doe their deuer To know the Lord shall prayse his name.
βc1400Song Roland 498 Trist us neuer If we in this mater do not our deuour. 1451Paston Lett. No. 114 I. 154, I..wol put me in devour for to execute your comaundements. 1502Arnolde Chron. (1811) 240 Lerne of me and do thy besy deuor From my folke al rauen to disseuor. 1513More 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. 1664Flodden F. iii. 22 Your deavours here are all in vain.
γ1470–85Malory Arthur vii. xxiii, I am moche beholdynge vnto that knyght, that hath put soo his body in deuoyre to worshippe me and my courte. 1509Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) II. 251 Doynge his deuoyr for the same ay to prouyde. c1534tr. 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. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. ii. Prol., May we be happie in our weake devoyer. 1671A. 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.
c1386Chaucer 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]. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) ii. v. 98 Yf..she yeldeth the deuoure of maryage ayenst her wyll. 1590Marlowe Edw. II, v. i, To do your highness service and devoir.. Berkeley would die. 1642Chas. 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. 1698Fryer 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. 1742Young 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, β14..Epiph. in Tundale's Vis. 107 That he hym selffe [Herod] wold after goo Vnto the chyld and hys deyver doo. a1845Hood Faithless Nelly Gray iv, He went to pay her his devours, When he'd devoured his pay!
γ1513Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 655 This royall maryage was solempnysed..Theyr frendes, cosyns redy on euery syde To do theyr deuoyre. 1669Dryden 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. 1676Shadwell Virtuoso i. i, He's come to pay his devoir to you. 1754Richardson Grandison Let. 14 Oct., I am come down to pay my devoirs to Miss Byron. I hope for acceptance. 1782European Mag. I. 248 She..resisted the devoirs of the tender and pious Lord George Gordon. 1816J. Scott Vis. Paris 37 In the inn-yards of our great North-road, when the passing coachmen pay their devoirs to the expectant chambermaids. 1873Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 141 When he paid devoir To Louis Quatorze as he dined in state. 1880Disraeli 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.
[1360Act 34 Edw. III, c. 18 Paiant lour custumes & autres devoirs au Roi. 1378Act 2 Rich. II, Stat 1 c. 3 Custumes, subsides et autres devoirs de Calays.] 1502Arnolde 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. 1503–4Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 27 §1 The Kinges duetie called the devours or Custume of Calays. 1641Termes 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.
c1845C. 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? 1857Mrs. 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.
1530Palsgr. 514/2 I dever, I applye my mynde to do a thing..I shall devoyre my selfe to the best that I maye. |