obeisance

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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:

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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

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References in classic literature ?

We passed through several apartments, between servants of the same sort, ranked on each side as before, till we came to the chamber of presence; where, after three profound obeisances, and a few general questions, we were permitted to sit on three stools, near the lowest step of his highness's throne.

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They had poured out of the hut and were making plump obeisances to every-body.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.