Definitions for obsequious
əbˈsi kwi əsob·se·quious

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. bootlicking, fawning, obsequious, sycophantic, toadyishadjective

   attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

2. obsequiousadjective

   attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

   "obsequious shop assistants"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obsequiousadjective

   Obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.

2. obsequiousadjective

   Excessively eager to please or to obey all instructions; fawning, subservient.

3. obsequiousadjective

   of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal

4. Etymology: From obsequiosus, from obsequium, from obsequor, from ob + sequor (see sequel).

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. OBSEQUIOUSadjective

   Etymology: from obsequium, Latin.

   1. Obedient; compliant; not resisting.

   Adore not so the rising son, that you forget the father, who raised you to this height; nor be you so obsequious to the father, that you give just cause to the son to suspect that you neglect him. Francis Bacon, Advice to Villiers.

   At his command th’ up-rooted hills retir’d
   Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went
   Obsequious. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   I follow’d her; she what was honour knew,
   And with obsequious majesty, approv’d
   My pleaded reason. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. viii.

   A genial cherishing heat acts so upon the fit and obsequious matter, as to organize and fashion it according to the exigencies of its own nature. Boyle.

   His servants weeping,
   Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   The vote of an assembly, which we cannot reconcile to public good, has been conceived in a private brain, afterwards supported by an obsequious party. Jonathan Swift.

   2. In William Shakespeare it seems to signify, funereal; such as the rites of funerals require.

   Your father lost a father;
   That father his; and the surviver bound
   In filial obligation, for some term,
   To do obsequious sorrow. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obsequious

   Obsequious refers to an excessive willingness to serve or please others, often to the point of being overly submissive, fawning, or submissive. It often implies a lack of self-respect or dignity in attempts to gain favor or approval from someone of higher status.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 3 votes

1. Obsequiousadjective

   promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted

2. Obsequiousadjective

   servilely or meanly attentive; compliant to excess; cringing; fawning; as, obsequious flatterer, parasite

3. Obsequiousadjective

   of or pertaining to obsequies; funereal

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obsequious

   ob-sē′kwi-us, adj. compliant to excess: meanly condescending.—adv. Obsē′quiously.—n. Obsē′quiousness. [Fr.,—L. obsequiosus, compliant, obsequium, compliance.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obsequious

   overly obedient or attentive.

   Being obsequious is also not a good sign.

   
   

   Submitted by anonymous on February 22, 2019  

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce obsequious?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say obsequious in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of obsequious in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of obsequious in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of obsequious in a Sentence

1. Walter Raleigh:

   But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer a friend.

2. Peabody Award:

   He's irreverent, honest, curious, never condescending, never obsequious, people open up to him and, in doing so, often reveal more about their hometowns or homelands than a traditional reporter could hope to document.

3. Henry David Thoreau, "Walden," the Conclusion:

   Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board.

4. Hunter Biden:

   Vladimir Putin knows I know Vladimir Putin, and Vladimir Putin knows me. And the fact is that this is what is needed on day one, we're in trouble. We're in trouble. This President is shredding our alliances. This President is yielding to Vladimir Putin in ways that are obsequious.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=obsequious
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Obsequious
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=obsequious
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsequious
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=obsequious
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=obsequious