obedience

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
  2. noun the trait of being willing to obey
  3. noun behavior intended to please your parents

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

obeisance

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