obedience

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   behavior intended to please your parents

   their children were never very strong on obedience

2. 2
   noun

   The quality of being obedient.

   Obedience is essential in any army.

3. 3
   noun

   the act of obeying

4. 4
   noun

   the trait of being willing to obey

5. 5
   noun

   The collective body of persons subject to any particular authority.

6. 6
   noun

   A written instruction from the superior of an order to those under him.

7. 7
   noun

   Any official position under an abbot's jurisdiction.

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.