obeisance

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Quotations

[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

• IPA: /oˈbeɪsəns/, SAMPA: /o"beIs@ns/

  Hyphenation: obei‧sance

  Rhymes: -eɪsəns

[edit] Noun

obeisance (plural obeisances)

1. 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.

2. 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)