devoir Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun formal expression of respect

WordNet

De*voir" noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due.
Definitions
  1. Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; -- now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies. "Do now your devoid, young knights!" Chaucer.

Webster 1913