obsequious

[uhb-see-kwee-uhs]

adjective

1. characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; fawning; ingratiating.

   an obsequious bow;

   obsequious servants.

   Synonyms: submissive, deferential, subservient, servile, oleaginous, flattering

2. obedient; dutiful.

obsequious

/ əbˈsiːkwɪəs /

adjective

1. obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

2. rare,  submissive or compliant

Other Word Forms

• obsequiously adverb
• obsequiousness noun
• overobsequious adjective
• overobsequiously adverb
• unobsequious adjective
• unobsequiously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsequious¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin obsequiōsus, equivalent to obsequi(um) “compliance,” derivative of obsequ(ī) “to comply with” (equivalent to ob- + sequī “to follow”) + -ium + -ōsus; ob-, -ium, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsequious¹

C15: from Latin obsequiōsus compliant, from obsequium compliance, from obsequi to follow, from ob- to + sequi to follow

Synonym Study

See servile.

Example Sentences

Mr. Landau may be a revered figure in the history of rock, but Mr. Cooper and Mr. Strong’s version of him reminded me of Paul Shaffer’s obsequious Artie Fufkin in “This Is Spinal Tap.”

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Vance was never the first choice for even that obsequious role.

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Some Swiss politicians are already arguing that Switzerland's negotiating tactics were not up to scratch – but some say too tough, others say too obsequious.

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Last month's Nato summit in The Hague was an exercise in obsequious courtship.

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That may afford instant gratification, but it only strengthens an obsequious subservience to Trump.

Read more on Salon