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Webster 1913 Edition
Obsequious
Ob-se′qui-ous
,Adj.
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, parasiteThere 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Obsequious
OBSE'QUIOUS
,Adj.
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.]Definition 2024
obsequious
obsequious
English
Adjective
obsequious (comparative more obsequious, superlative most obsequious)
- (archaic) Obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
- Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey all instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.
- 1927, Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, p. 20
- Translation falls especially short of this conceit which carries the whole flamboyance of the Spanish language. It was intended as an obsequious flattery of the Condesa, and was untrue.
- 1927, Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, p. 20
- (obsolete) Of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal.
- Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2
- … the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow…
- … the survivor bound
- Shakespeare, Richard III, Act I, Scene 2
- Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament
Th’ untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.
- Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament
- Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2
Usage notes
- In modern usage, not to be confused with obsequies as the “funereal” sense has become obsolete.
Synonyms
- (fawning or subservient): fawning, ingratiating, servile, slavish, sycophantic, truckling, people pleaser, kiss-ass
Related terms
Translations
obedient, compliant with someone else's orders
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fawning, subservient
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