Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral PowersSection IV. Moral Affections
1. Moral Obligations
926. Duty.
allegiance, fealty, tie; engagement (promise) [See Promise]; part; function, calling (business) [See Business].
OBSERVANCE, fulfillment, discharge, performance, acquittal, satisfaction, redemption; good behavior.
MORALITY, morals, decalogue; case of conscience; conscientiousness (probity) [See Probity]; conscience, inward monitor, still small voice within, sense of duty, tender conscience; the hell within [Paradise Lost].
PROPRIETY, fitness; dueness [See Dueness]; seemliness, amenableness, amenability, decorum, to prepon [Gr. τ&omictono; πρ&epsitono;πον]; the thing, the proper thing; the -right, – proper- thing to do.
[SCIENCE OF MORALS] ethics, ethology [obs. in this sense]; deontology, aretology [obs.]; moral -, ethical- philosophy; casuistry, polity.
take upon oneself (promise) [See Promise]; be -, become- -bound to, – sponsor for; incur a responsibility &c. n.; be -, stand -, lie- under an obligation; stand responsible for; have to answer for; owe it to oneself.
enter upon -, perform -, observe -, fulfill -, discharge -, adhere to -, acquit oneself of -, satisfy- -a duty, – an obligation; act one’s part, redeem one’s pledge, do justice to, be at one’s post; do duty; do one’s duty &c. (be virtuous) [See Virtue].
be on one’s good behavior, mind one’s P’s and Q’s; walk the straight path.
IMPOSE A DUTY &c. n.; enjoin, require, exact; bind, – over; saddle with, prescribe, assign, call upon, look to, oblige.
due to, beholden to, bound to, indebted to; tied down; compromised (promised) [See Promise]; in duty bound.
AMENABLE, liable, accountable, responsible, answerable.
RIGHT, meet (due) [See Dueness]; moral, ethical, casuistical, conscientious, ethological.
- Dura lex sed lex.
- Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
- Honos habet onus.
- Leve fit quod bene fertur onus.—Ovid
- Loyauté m’oblige.
- Simple duty hath no place for fear.—Whittier
- Stern daughter of the voice of God.—Wordsworth
- There is a higher law than the Constitution.—Wm. Seward
- So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man, When Duty whispers low, Thou must, The youth replies, I can!—Emerson
- Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire—conscience.—George Washington
- Thus conscience does make cowards of us all.—Hamlet
- And voices that we thought were fled Arise and call us, and we come.—Noyes