English Explanatory Dictionary

obsequious

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.
Obedient; compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
Of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal.

Pronunciation

/əbˈsiːkwi.əs/ en-us-obsequious.ogg

Word forms

obsequious more obsequious most obsequious

Etymology

From Middle English obsequyous, from Latin obsequiōsus (“complaisant, obsequious”), from obsequium (“compliance”), from obsequor (“comply with, yield to”), from ob (“in the direction of, towards”) + sequor (“follow”) (cf. sequel).

Synonyms

fawning ingratiating servile slavish sycophantic truckling smarmy asskissing asslicky greasy groveling obsequious oily oleaginous schmoozy self-abasing slimy soapy sucky toadyish toadying unctuous bowsome buxom compliant hearsome morigerous obedible obedient obsequent tall toward

Derived words

obsequiate obsequience obsequiosity obsequiously obsequiousness obsequity overobsequious unobsequious

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