bounden

American  

[boun-duhn] / ˈbaʊn dən /

adjective

1. obligatory; compulsory.

   one's bounden duty.

2. Archaic. under obligation; obliged; beholden.

---

bounden British  

/ ˈbaʊndən /

adjective

1. morally obligatory (archaic except in the phrase bounden duty )

---

Etymology

Origin of bounden

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, variant of bound ¹

Example Sentences

“There is a bounden duty on the government to provide basic amenities to the citizens of the country.”

From New York Times

They consider it no less than their bounden duty to bring back a larger fish than last year.

From Literature

Yet the penguins, seals, sea-lions, and sea-elephants which contrived to maintain a hold on life in those inhospitable regions represent types of animal life which it was our bounden duty to preserve.

From Nature

It would be his bounden duty to turn Hannah over to the law.

From Literature

These pages feature a number of unusual words and phrases – "exposed", "leauened", "imitator", "ouerseen", "most bounden" – most of which are unfamiliar to Jonson or his contemporaries, but which are familiar to Florio.

From The Guardian