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Webster 1913 Edition

Obsequious

Ob-se′qui-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
obsequiosus
, fr.
obsequium
compliance, fr.
obsequi
, fr.
obsequi
: cf. F.
obséquieux
, 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
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Obsequious

OBSE'QUIOUS

,
Adj.
[from L. obsequium, complaisance, from obsequor, to follow; ob and sequor.]
1.
Promptly obedient or submissive to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of others, properly to the will or command of a superior, but in actual use, it often signifies yielding to the will or desires of such as have no right to control.
His servants weeping, obsequious to his orders, bear him hither.
2.
Servilely or meanly condescending; compliant to excess; as an obsequious flatterer, minion or parasite.
3.
Funereal; pertaining to funeral rites. [Not used.]

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