obeisance
pronunciation
How to pronounce obeisance in British English:
UK [əʊˈbeɪsns]
How to pronounce obeisance in American English:
US [oʊˈbisns]
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- Noun:
- bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame
- the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
Word Origin
- obeisance (n.)
- late 14c., "act or fact of obeying," from Old French obeissance "obedience, service, feudal duty" (13c.), from obeissant, present participle of obeir "obey," from Latin oboedire (see obey). Sense in English altered late 14c. to "bending or prostration of the body as a gesture of submission or respect" by confusion with abaisance. Related: Obeisant.
Example
- 1. It was a gesture of intergenerational obeisance to traditional authority .
- 2. I assume this obeisance is simply par for the course .
- 3. The message to companies : know your place and pay obeisance .
- 4. I stood quite still , and made him no obeisance .
- 5. Not the least obeisance made he ; not an instant stopped or stayed he ;