obeisance
[ oh-bey-suh ns, oh-bee- ]
/ oʊˈbeɪ səns, oʊˈbi- /
noun
a movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture.
deference or homage: The nobles gave obeisance to the new king.
Nearby words
obedient plant, obedientiary, obediently, obeid, obeid, el, obeisance, obelia, obelion, obelisk, obelize, obelus
Origin of obeisance
Related formso·bei·sant, adjectiveo·bei·sant·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for obeisance
British Dictionary definitions for obeisance
obeisance
/ (əʊˈbeɪsəns, əʊˈbiː-) /
noun
an attitude of deference or homage
a gesture expressing obeisance
Derived Formsobeisant, adjectiveobeisantly, adverb
Word Origin for obeisance
C14: from Old French obéissant, present participle of obéir to obey
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for obeisance
obeisance
late 14c., "act or fact of obeying," from Old French obeissance "obedience, service, feudal duty" (13c.), from obeissant, present participle of obeir "obey," from Latin oboedire (see obey). Sense in English altered late 14c. to "bending or prostration of the body as a gesture of submission or respect" by confusion with abaisance. Related: Obeisant.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper