devoir
noun
ˈde-ˌvwär 
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How the Pronunciation of Devoir Evolved
Devoir was borrowed twice, in a manner of speaking. We first borrowed it in its Anglo-French form, dever, back in the days of Middle English. As is so often the case when an adopted word becomes established in English, its pronunciation shifted to conform to English pronunciation standards. The French put the stress on the last syllable, but English speakers stressed the first. One hundred or so years later, some writers changed the English spelling to "devoir" to match the modern French. That French borrowing was actually pronounced like French (as well as English speakers could, anyway)-just as it is today.
Synonyms
- burden
- charge
- commitment
- do [archaic]
- duty
- imperative
- incumbency
- need
- obligation
- office
- responsibility
Example Sentences
Word History
alteration of Middle English dever, devoir, from Anglo-French, from deveir, devoer to owe, be obliged, from Latin debēre — more at debt
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
devoirs
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- duties
- obligations
- responsibilities
- needs
- commitments
- vows
- burdens
- pledges
- promises
- offices
- imperatives
- requirements
- oaths
- constraints
- words
- dos
- incumbencies
- payments
- pacts
- charges
- arrangements
- debts
- tributes
- contracts
- engagements
- do's
- musts
- trusts
- prearrangements
- appointments
- covenants
- restraints
- reservations
- troths
- compacts
- setups
- forces
- compulsions
- pre-arrangements
- coercions
- duresses
- onuses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graces
- exemptions
- stays
- waivers
- discharges
- postponements
- releases
- reliefs
- selections
- alternatives
- options
- choices
- picks
- preferences
- loopholes
- eases