English Explanatory Dictionary

docile

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Ready to accept instruction or direction; obedient; subservient.
  2. Yielding to control or supervision, direction, or management.

Pronunciation

/ˈdəʊ.saɪl/ /ˈdɑ.səl/ /ˈdɑ.saɪl/ en-us-docile.ogg en-us-docile2.ogg en-au-docile.ogg

Word forms

docile more docile most docile

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-der. Proto-Italic *dokeō Latin doceō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin docilisder. Middle French docilebor. Middle English docyle English docile From Middle English docyle, from Middle French docile, from Latin docilis, from docēre (“teach”). Compare Spanish dócil ("docile").

Synonyms

amenable biddable complaisant compliant controllable docile governable indulgent manageable maniable meek passive pliant rulable tractable yielding teachable bowsome buxom hearsome morigerous obedible obedient obsequent obsequious tall toward malleable submissive

Antonyms

authoritarian bossy dictatorial dominant domineering imperious overbearing defiant obstinate perverse rebellious recalcitrant wilful incompliant incontrollable indocile intractable nonamenable noncompliant noncontrollable nondocile nonindulgent nonpassive nonpliant nonyielding unamenable unbiddable uncomplaisant uncompliant uncontrollable undocile ungovernable unindulgent unmanageable unmeek unpassive unpliant unrulable untractable unyielding

Related words

docent doctor doctorate doctrinaire doctrinal doctrine document indoctrinate humble

Derived words

docilely docileness docility docilization docilize nondocile undocile
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