English Explanatory Dictionary

obedience

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The quality of being obedient.
  2. The collective body of persons subject to any particular authority.
  3. A written instruction from the superior of an order to those under him.
  4. Any official position under an abbot's jurisdiction.

Pronunciation

/ə(ʊ)ˈbiːdɪəns/ /oʊˈbidiəns/ /əˈbidiəns/ en-us-obedience.ogg

Word forms

obedience obediences oboedience

Etymology

From Middle English obedience, from Anglo-Norman obedience, from Old French obedience (modern French obédience), from Latin oboedientia. Displaced native Old English hīersumnes (compare modern English hearsomeness). Cognate with obeisance.

Synonyms

submission hearsomeness

Antonyms

disobedience defiance rebellion violation control dominance

Related words

obedient obeisance obey

Derived words

anticipatory obedience canonical obedience misobedience nonobedience overobedience superobedience unobedience
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