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obsequious

[ uhb-see-kwee-uhs ]
/ əbˈsi kwi əs /
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adjective

characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; deferential; fawning: an obsequious bow;obsequious servants.
obedient; dutiful.

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Origin of obsequious

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; see ob-, -ium, -ous

SYNONYMS FOR obsequious

1 sycophantic, flattering; cringing, submissive.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR obsequious ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for obsequious

1. See servile.

OTHER WORDS FROM obsequious

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obsequious

obsequies, obsequious

Words nearby obsequious

obsecrate, obsequence, obsequent, obsequent stream, obsequies, obsequious, obsequy, observable, observance, observant, observation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to obsequious

abject, beggarly, complacent, compliant, cringing, deferential, fawning, flattering, ingratiating, menial, obeisant, oily, prostrate, respectful, servile, slavish, spineless, subject, submissive, subordinate

Example sentences from the Web for obsequious

British Dictionary definitions for obsequious

obsequious
/ (əbˈsiːkwɪəs) /

adjective

obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
rare submissive or compliant

Derived forms of obsequious

obsequiously, adverbobsequiousness, noun

Word Origin for obsequious

C15: from Latin obsequiōsus compliant, from obsequium compliance, from obsequi to follow, from ob- to + sequi to follow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012