o·bei·sance

(ō-bā′səns, ō-bē′-)

1. A gesture or movement of the body, such as a curtsy, that expresses deference or homage.

2. An attitude of deference or homage.

[Middle English obeisaunce, from Old French obeissance, from obeissant, present participle of obeir, to obey; see obey.]

o·bei′sant adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

obeisance

(əʊˈbeɪsəns; əʊˈbiː-)

1. an attitude of deference or homage

2. a gesture expressing obeisance

[C14: from Old French obéissant, present participle of obéir to obey]

oˈbeisant adj

oˈbeisantly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

o•bei•sance

(oʊˈbeɪ səns, oʊˈbi-)

n.

1. a movement of the body, as a bow or curtsy, expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy.

2. deference; homage.

[1325–75; Middle English < Middle French]

o•bei′sant, adj.

obeisance

1. a gesture of respect, as a bow.
2. homage or an act of homage. — obeisant, adj.

Obeisance

of servants: company of servants—Bk. of St. Albans, 1486.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	obeisance - bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting bowing, bow reverence - an act showing respect (especially a bow or curtsy) motion, gesture - the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals genuflection, genuflexion - the act of bending the knees in worship or reverence kotow, kowtow - a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission scrape, scraping - a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility); "all that bowing and scraping did not impress him" salaam - a deep bow; a Muslim form of salutation
	2.	obeisance - the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person obedience submission, compliance - the act of submitting; usually surrendering power to another truckling - the act of obeying meanly (especially obeying in a humble manner or for unworthy reasons)

obeisance

noun (Formal)

1. homage, respect, tribute, loyalty, devotion, fidelity, reverence, deference, faithfulness, fealty Everyone paid obeisance to the emperor.

2. bow, salaam, salutation, kowtow, genuflection, bob, bending of the knee, curtsy or curtsey He graciously accepted our obeisances.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

obeisance

noun

1. An inclination of the head or body, as in greeting, consent, courtesy, submission, or worship:

bow, curtsy, genuflection, kowtow, nod.

2. Great respect or high public esteem accorded as a right or as due:

deference, homage, honor.

Translations

Huldigung

obeisance

[əʊˈbeɪsəns] N (frm)

1. (= homage) → homenaje m
to do or make or pay obeisance to → tributar homenaje a

2. (= bow etc) → reverencia f; (= salutation) → saludo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

obeisance

(form: = homage, respect) → Ehrerbietung f, → Reverenz f (geh), → Huldigung f (liter); to make or pay obeisance (to somebody) → (jdm) seine Huldigung darbringen, (jdm) huldigen

(obs, = deep bow) → Verbeugung f, → Verneigung f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

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 an instant 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.

View in context

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.

View in context

Never was there a more beautiful example of how the majesty of age and wisdom may comport with the obeisance and respect enjoined upon it, as from a lower social rank, and inferior order of endowment, towards a higher.

View in context

Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings.

View in context

But I was certainly one of the party when we came upon an old beggar-man cutting sticks, at whose feet the lion made a profound obeisance, Sylvie and Bruno at the same moment dismounting, and leaping in to the arms of their father.

View in context

At length the damsel with the jug returned and they made an end of washing Don Quixote, and the one who carried the towels very deliberately wiped him and dried him; and all four together making him a profound obeisance and curtsey, they were about to go, when the duke, lest Don Quixote should see through the joke, called out to the one with the basin saying, "Come and wash me, and take care that there is water enough." The girl, sharp-witted and prompt, came and placed the basin for the duke as she had done for Don Quixote, and they soon had him well soaped and washed, and having wiped him dry they made their obeisance and retired.

View in context

As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence of the Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letter and the king's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded of me whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as he claimed to be.

View in context

He fairly turned green with rage when he saw Sir Richard of the Lea and Robin Hood in the royal company, but made low obeisance to his master.

View in context

While all was silence in the class--silence, but for the rustling of copy-books and the travelling of pens over their pages--a leaf of the large folding-door, opening from the hall, unclosed, admitting a pupil who, after making a hasty obeisance, ensconced herself with some appearance of trepidation, probably occasioned by her entering so late, in a vacant seat at the desk nearest the door.

View in context

To whom Stephen made his obeisance, closing the door and standing near it, with his hat in his hand.

View in context

"It is here, O Lord of Lords," he said with a deep obeisance.

View in context

We halted; the tower saluted, I responded; then we wheeled and rode side by side to the grand-stand and faced our king and queen, to whom we made obeisance. The queen exclaimed:

View in context