obsequious

WOTD - 30 May 2008    

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /əbˈsiːkwi.əs/, SAMPA: /@b"si:.kwi.@s/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

obsequious (comparative more obsequious, superlative most obsequious)

1. (archaic) Obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
2. Excessively eager to please or to obey all instructions; fawning, subservient.
   • 1927 — Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, p. 20

     Translation falls especially short of this conceit which carries the whole flamboyance of the Spanish language. It was intended as an obsequious flattery of the Condesa, and was untrue.

3. (obsolete) of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal
   • Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2

     ... the survivor bound
     In filial obligation for some term
     To do obsequious sorrow...
     

   • Shakespeare, Richard III, Act I, Scene 2

     Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament
     Th' untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.

Usage notes

• in modern usage, not to be confused with obsequies as the "funereal" sense has become obsolete.

Synonyms

• (fawning or subservient): fawning, ingratiating, servile, slavish, sycophantic, truckling

Related terms

• obsequiously
• obsequiousness

Translations

obedient, compliant with someone else's orders

Danish: underdanig (da) Dutch: onderdanig (nl) Hungarian: engedelmes (hu) Polish: służalczy m.

Romanian: obsecvios (ro) Russian: послушный (ru) Serbo-Croatian: podložan (sh) Swedish: inställsam (sv), underdånig (sv)

fawning, subservient

Czech: podlézavý (cs) Danish: servil (da), slesk (da) Dutch: kruiperig (nl),slaafs (nl),onderworpen (nl) Finnish: nöyristelevä (fi), mielistelevä (fi) French: obséquieux (fr) Greek: γλύφτης (el) (gliftis) m.

Hungarian: alázatos (hu), szolgalelkű (hu) Polish: służalczy (pl) m. Romanian: servil (ro), obsecvios (ro) Russian: подобострастный (ru), раболепный (ru) Serbo-Croatian: servilan (sh) Swedish: underdånig (sv), krypande (sv)