obeisance

noun

obei·​sance ō-ˈbē-sᵊn(t)s 

ə-,

-ˈbā- 

1

: a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow

After making his obeisances he approached the altar.

2

: acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance : homage

makes obeisance to her mentors

The players paid obeisance to their coach.

obeisant

ō-ˈbē-sᵊnt 

ə-

-ˈbā-

adjective

obeisantly adverb

Did you know?

When it first appeared in English in the 14th century, obeisance shared the same meaning as obedience. This makes sense given that obeisance can be traced back to the Anglo-French word obeir, a verb meaning “to obey” that is also an ancestor of English’s obey. The other senses of obeisance also date from the 14th century, but they have stood the test of time whereas the “obedience” sense is now obsolete... or is it? Recent evidence suggests that obeisance is starting to be used again as an (often disparaging) synonym of obedience; for example, a politician deemed too easily swayed by others may be said to have pledged obeisance to party leaders or malign influences.

Examples of obeisance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But positioning her as Ethan’s maybe-girlfriend — as if in obeisance to and at the same time defiance of some foundational rule of musical theater — undoes that work. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024

Even in social life, this does not require thanks, and in your office, doing so would seem to accept it as obeisance. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024

Suu Kyi remains a revered figure in Myanmar, but international backers were horrified by her obeisance to the military and her public accession to flagrant rights violations carried out by the generals, including the 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. —David Pierson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2021

Bowing down is a symbol of obeisance, and Americans do not bend our knees for our own leaders, much less for foreign potentates. —Judith Martin, oregonlive, 18 Apr. 2023

Spanish and, later, British colonists, by contrast, more often demanded obeisance and control over land, leading to major conflicts such as the ones that engulfed the continent in the 1670s–80s and during the Seven Years’ War. —David Waldstreicher, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2022

The tight circle of poets and musicians and noblemen paying her obeisance was portrayed by her enemies as a ring of romantic assignations. —Tina Brown, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obeissance, obeysaunce "obedience, submission, gesture indicating submission," borrowed from Anglo-French obeissaunce, from obeisant "willing to obey" (from present participle of obeir "to submit to the authority of, obey") + -aunce -ance — more at obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing obeisance

• pay obeisance

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Kids Definition

obeisance

noun

obei·​sance ō-ˈbēs-ᵊn(t)s  -ˈbās- 

: a movement of the body (as a bow) made as a sign of respect