🔒 Duty-Bound: Embracing Obligations with a Smile😀
Origin and Meaning: “To be firmly obligated” or “duty-bound” originates from the phrase bounden duty, dating as far back as the 1500s. Back then, it was a repetition of sorts since bound already meant “under obligations” from the 1400s. The usage has evolved through the centuries. For instance, Harriet Martineau’s 1833 story, The Manchester Strike, showcases the phrase in its archaic glory: “It was his bounden duty to accept the office.” Over time, grammar enthusiasts spruced it up to the present participial form we often see nowadays, e.g., “I’m duty bound to report this violation to the dean.”
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Bound by honor: Obliged through a sense of honor.
- Obligated: Required to do something, especially because of law or moral duty.
- Honor-bound: Your morality or ethics require you to do it.
- Bound and determined: Very determined.
Synonyms:
- Obligated
- Committed
- Compelled
- Required
Antonyms:
- Unbound
- Uncommitted
- Free
- Unobligated
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “Duty-bound: That moment you realize Netflix can’t actually serve as an excuse for ’not’ saving the world today.” 😂 — Confessions of a Slacker Hero
- “Being duty-bound feels like being in an invisible club you never signed up for, but hey, membership has its privileges like lifetime nagging rights.” — The Grin-and-Bear-It Handbook
Proverbs and References:
- Proverb: “Duty is heavier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather.” — Japanese Proverb
- Reference: The Bible – “And duty is not punishment. It’s the giving of life.” — James 2:14-26
- Literature: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - Duty, duty, duty — a word traced with dread into the young life of Jane.
Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Books: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Delve into the all-encompassing duty felt by Jean Valjean.
- Songs: “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor – It’s about personal strength but think about its lyrics next time you face a duty.
- Movies: Spiderman series – “With great power comes great responsibility.”
- Poetry: If— by Rudyard Kipling – Brimming with advice and duty undertones.
Inspirational Farewell: Remember, dear reader, a sense of duty is just part of life’s grandiose masquerade. So, don your mask and let duty dance you through life’s endless mysteries with a smile. Until next edition, keep being gloriously duty-bound, one charming cliché at a time! 🌟
Warm regards,
Ella Wurdsmith
