deontic

[ dee-on-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to duty and moral obligation as ethical concepts.

deontic

/ diːˈɒntɪk /

adjective

1. logic
   1. of or relating to such ethical concepts as obligation and permissibility
   2. designating the branch of modal logic that deals with the formalization of these concepts

Word History and Origins

Origin of deontic¹

First recorded in 1950–55; from Greek deont- (stem of déon “binding,” neuter present participle of deîn “to bind, tie, fetter”) + -ic ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of deontic¹

C19: from Greek deon duty, from impersonal dei it behoves, it is binding