obsequious

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  2. adjective attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

bootlicking, fawning, sycophantic, toadyish

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