Main Entry:

obe·di·ent

Pronunciation:

\-ənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin oboedient-, oboediens, from present participle of oboedire to obey

Date:

13th century

: submissive to the restraint or command of authority : willing to obey

— obe·di·ent·ly adverb

synonyms obedient, docile, tractable, amenable mean submissive to the will of another. obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority <obedient to the government>. docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance <a docile child>. tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing <tractable animals>. amenable suggests a willingness to yield or to cooperate either because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness <amenable to new ideas>.