This week’s theme
Words from English English

This week’s words
writhen
shrive
tidings
screed
bounden

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(BOUN-duhn)

MEANING:

adjective: Obligatory; binding.

ETYMOLOGY:

A past participle of bind, from Old English bindan (to bind). Earliest documented use: 1325.

NOTES:

A bounden duty is one you’re tied to, morally, legally, or emotionally. Think of it as the spiritual ancestor of a Terms-of-Service agreement, but with fewer checkboxes and more conscience. The word itself sounds so formal that you can drop it anywhere to sound more heroic. For example, add this to any wedding vows. “It is my bounden duty to take out the recycling.”

USAGE:

“Taking specialised care of our pets is part of our bounden duty, for what we get in return.”
Aroon Purie; The Demand for Pets Has Increased; India Today (New Delhi); Mar 20, 2023.

See more usage examples of bounden in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: