Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
obsequious - 4 dictionary results

ob⋅se⋅qui⋅ous

[uhb-see-kwee-uhs]
–adjective
1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow.
2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.
3. obedient; dutiful.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L obsequiōsus, equiv. to obsequi(um) compliance (obsequ(ī) to comply with (ob- ob- + sequī to follow) + -ium -ium ) + -ōsus -ous


ob⋅se⋅qui⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
ob⋅se⋅qui⋅ous⋅ness, noun


1. sycophantic, flattering. 2. cringing, submissive. See servile.
ob·se·qui·ous   (ŏb-sē'kwē-əs, əb-)   
adj.  Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.

[Middle English, from Latin obsequiōsus, from obsequium, compliance, from obsequī, to comply : ob-, to; see ob- + sequī, to follow; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ob·se'qui·ous·ly adv., ob·se'qui·ous·ness n.

Obsequious

Ob*se"qui*ous\, a. [L. obsequiosus, fr. obsequium compliance, fr. obsequi, fr. obsequi: cf. F. obs['e]quieux, See Obsequent, and cf. Obsequy.]

1. Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted. [Obs.]

His servants weeping, Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither. --Addison.

2. Servilely or meanly attentive; compliant to excess; cringing; fawning; as, obsequious flatterer, parasite.

There lies ever in "obsequious" at the present the sense of an observance which is overdone, of an unmanly readiness to fall in with the will of another. --Trench.

3. [See Obsequy.] Of or pertaining to obsequies; funereal. [R.] "To do obsequious sorrow." --Shak.

Syn: Compliant; obedient; servile. See Yielding.
Language Translation for : obsequious
Spanish: servil, servicial,
German: unterwürfig,
Japanese: こびへつらう

obsequious 
c.1450, "prompt to serve," from L. obsequiosus "compliant, obedient," from obsequium "compliance, dutiful service," from obsequi "to accommodate oneself to the will of another," from ob "after" + sequi "follow" (see sequel). Pejorative sense of "fawning, sycophantic" had emerged by 1599 (implied in obsequiously).
Search another word or see obsequious on Thesaurus | Reference