obsequious

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: ob=se=qui=ous

CIDE DICTIONARY

obsequious, a. [L. obsequiosus, fr. obsequium compliance, fr. obsequi, fr. obsequi: cf. F. obséquieux, See Obsequent, and cf. Obsequy.].

•  Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted.  [1913 Webster]

  "His servants weeping,
  Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither."  [1913 Webster]
•  Servilely or meanly attentive; compliant to excess; cringing; fawning; as, obsequious flatterer, parasite.  [1913 Webster]

  "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."  [1913 Webster]
•  Of or pertaining to obsequies; funereal.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Compliant; obedient; servile. See Yielding.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

obsequious, adj. servilely obedient or attentive.

Derivative

obsequiously adv. obsequiousness n.

Etymology

ME f. L obsequiosus f. obsequium compliance (as OB-, sequi follow)

THESAURUS

obsequious

abject, adulatory, ass-kissing, backscratching, beggarly, bland, blandishing, blarneying, bootlicking, brown-nosing, buttery, cajoling, complimentary, courtierly, courtly, cowering, crawling, cringing, crouching, deferential, fair-spoken, fawning, fine-spoken, flattering, footlicking, fulsome, groveling, gushing, hangdog, honey-mouthed, honey-tongued, honeyed, ingratiating, insincere, insinuating, low, mealy-mouthed, mealymouthed, menial, obeisant, oily, oily-tongued, on bended knee, parasitic, prone, prostrate, servile, slavish, slimy, slobbery, smarmy, smooth, smooth-spoken, smooth-tongued, sniveling, soapy, soft-soaping, sponging, submissive, subservient, sycophantic, sycophantical, sycophantish, timeserving, toadeating, toadying, toadyish, truckling, unctuous, wheedling

ROGET THESAURUS

obsequious

Servility

N servility, slavery, obsequiousness, subserviency, abasement, prostration, prosternation, genuflection, fawning, tuft- hunting, timeserving, flunkeyism, sycophancy, humility, sycophant, parasite, toad, toady, toad-eater, tufthunter, snob, flunky, flunkey, yes-man, lapdog, spaniel, lickspittle, smell-feast, Graeculus esuriens, hanger on, cavaliere servente, led captain, carpet knight, timeserver, fortune hunter, Vicar of Bray, Sir- Pertinax, Max Sycophant, pickthank, flatterer, doer of dirty work, ame damnee, tool, reptile, slave, courtier, beat, dead beat, doughface, heeler, homme de cour, sponger, sucker, tagtail, truckler, servile, obsequious, supple, supple as a glove, soapy, oily, pliant, cringing, abased, dough-faced, fawning, slavish, groveling, sniveling, mealy-mouthed, beggarly, sycophantic, parasitical, abject, prostrate, down on ones marrowbones, base, mean, sneaking, crouching, hat in hand, cap in hand.

Courtesy

N courtesy, respect, good manners, good behavior, good breeding, manners, politeness, bienseance, urbanity, comity, gentility, breeding, polish, presence, civility, civilization, amenity, suavity, good temper, good humor, amiability, easy temper, complacency, soft tongue, mansuetude, condescension, affability, complaisance, pr_evenance, amability, gallantry, pink of politeness, pink of courtesy, compliment, fair words, soft words, sweet words, honeyed phrases, ceremonial salutation, reception, presentation, introduction, accueil, greeting, recognition, welcome, abord, respects, devoir, regards, remembrances, kind regards, kind remembrances, love, best love, duty, empty encomium, flattering remark, hollow commendation, salaams, obeisance, bow, courtesy, curtsy, scrape, salaam, kotow, kowtow, bowing and scraping, kneeling, genuflection, obsequiousness, capping, shaking hands grip of the hand, embrace, hug, squeeze, accolade, loving cup, vin d'honneur, pledge, love token, kiss, buss, salute, mark of recognition, nod, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, valediction, condolence, courteous, polite, civil, mannerly, urbane, well-behaved, well- mannered, well-bred, well-brought up, good-mannered, polished, civilized, cultivated, refined, gentlemanlike, gallant, on one's good behavior, fine spoken, fair spoken, soft-spoken, honey-mouthed, honey- tongued, oily, bland, obliging, conciliatory, complaisant, complacent, obsequious, ingratiating, winning, gentle, mild, good-humored, cordial, gracious, affable, familiar, neighborly, diplomatic, tactful, politic, artful, courteously, with a good grace, with open arms, with outstretched arms, a bras ouverts, suaviter in modo, in good humor, Int, hail!, welcome!, well met!, ave!, all hail!, good day, good morrow!, Godspeed!, pax vobiscum!, may your shadow never be less!, Tien de plus estimable que la ceremonie, the very pink of courtesy.

Respect

N respect, regard, consideration, courtesy, attention, deference, reverence, honor, esteem, estimation, veneration, admiration, approbation, homage, fealty, obeisance, genuflection, kneeling prostration, obsequiousness, salaam, kowtow, bow, presenting arms, salute, respects, regards, duty, devoirs, egards, devotion, respecting, respectful, deferential, decorous, reverential, obsequious, ceremonious, bareheaded, cap in hand, on one's knees, prostrate, respected, in high esteem, in high estimation, time-honored, venerable, emeritus, in deference to, with all respect, with all due respect, with due respect, with the highest respect, with submission, saving your grace, saving your presence, salva sit reverentia, pace tanti nominis, Int, hail!, all hail!, esto perpetua!, may your shadow never be less!, and pluck up drowned honor by the locks, his honor rooted in dishonor stood, honor pricks me on.