obeisance
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English obeisaunce (“‘obedience, obeisance’”), from Old French obeïssance, derived from obeïssant (“‘obedient’”), participle of obeïr (“‘to obey’”), from Latin oboedire, obedire; ob- (“‘to, for’”) + audire (“‘to hear’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
obeisance (plural obeisances)
- Taking a bow, to show an obedient attitude.
- 1845, Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven":
- Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, ¶ In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; ¶ Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; ¶ But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door — ¶ Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door — ¶ Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
- 1845, Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven":
- An obedient attitude.
[edit] Usage notes
Usually in the phrases do obeisance or make obeisance.
[edit] Quotations
- The situation in the case of actions which are non-linguistic but similar to performative utterances in that they are the performance of a conventional action (here ritual or ceremonial) is rather like this : suppose I bow deeply before you; it might not be clear whether I am doing obeisance to you or, say, stooping to observe the flora or to ease my indigestion. - "How To Do Things With Words" (1962) by JL Austin (OUP paperback edition, 69)