Obey

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: o=bey

CIDE DICTIONARY

Obey, v. t. [OE. obeyen, F. obéir, fr. L. obedire, oboedire; ob (see Ob-) + audire to hear. See Audible, and cf. Obeisance.].

•  To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.  [1913 Webster]

  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord."  [1913 Webster]

  "Was she the God, that her thou didst obey?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.  [1913 Webster]

  "My will obeyed his will."  [1913 Webster]

  "Afric and India shall his power obey."  [1913 Webster]
•  To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.  [1913 Webster]

Obey, v. i. 

 To give obedience.  [1913 Webster]
" By some old writers obey was used, as in the French idiom, with the preposition to."  [1913 Webster]
"Will he obey when one commands?"  [1913 Webster]
"His servants ye are, to whom ye obey."  [1913 Webster]
"He commanded the trumpets to sound: to which the two brave knights obeying, they performed their courses."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Obey, v.
1 tr. a carry out the command of (you will obey me). b carry out (a command) (obey orders).
2 intr. do what one is told to do.
3 tr. be actuated by (a force or impulse).

Derivative

obeyer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF obeir f. L obedire (as OB-, audire hear)

THESAURUS

Obey

abide by, accede, accept, acquiesce, acquiesce in, act, adhere to, agree, agree to, assent, attend to orders, be agreeable, bend to, bow, bow to, carry out, comply, comply with, condone, conform, conform to, conform with, consent, consent to, countenance, defer, defer to, discharge, do, effect, execute, face the music, follow, follow the book, fulfill, give way to, go along with, grin and abide, harken to, heed, keep, knock under, knuckle down, knuckle under, knuckle under to, let go by, let pass, listen to, live with it, mark, meet, mind, not resist, obey the rules, observe, overlook, perform, regard, relent, resign, respect, rise above, satisfy, serve, shrug, shrug it off, stay in line, submit, submit to, succumb, succumb to, swallow it, swallow the pill, take, take it, take orders, toe the line, truckle to, yield, yield to

ROGET THESAURUS

Obey

Submission

VB succumb, submit, yeild, bend, resign, defer to, lay down one's arms, deliver up one's arms, lower colors, haul down colors, strike one's flag, strike colors, surrender, surrender at discretion, cede, capitulate, come to terms, retreat, beat a retreat, draw in one's horns, give way, give round, give in, give up, cave in, suffer judgment by default, bend, bend to one's yoke, bend before the storm, reel back, bend down, knuckle down, knuckle to, knuckle under, knock under, eat dirt, eat the leek, eat humble pie, bite the dust, lick the dust, be at one's feet, fall at one's feet, craven, crouch before, throw oneself at the feet of, swallow the leek, swallow the pill, kiss the rod, turn the other cheek, avaler les couleuvres, gulp down, obey, kneel to, bow to, pay homage to, cringe to, truckle to, bend the neck, bend the knee, kneel, fall on one's knees, bow submission, courtesy, curtsy, kowtow, pocket the affront, make the best of, make a virtue of necessity, grin and abide, grin and bear it, shrug the shoulders, resign oneself, submit with a good grace.

Obedience

VB be obedient, obey, bear obedience to, submit, comply, answer the helm, come at one's call, do one's bidding, do what one is told, do suit and service, attend to orders, serve faithfully, follow the lead of, follow to the world's end, serve, play second fiddle.

Subjection

VB be subject, be at the mercy of, lie at the mercy of, depend upon, lean upon, hang upon, fall a prey to, fall under, play second fiddle, be a mere machine, be a puppet, be a football, not dare to say one's soul is his own, drag a chain, serve, obey, submit, break in, tame, subject, subjugate, master, tread down, tread under foot, weigh down, drag at one's chariot wheels, reduce to subjection, reduce to slavery, enthrall, inthrall, bethrall, enslave, lead captive, take into custody, rule, drive into a corner, hold at the sword's point, keep under, hold in bondage, hold in leading strings, hold in swaddling clothes.