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Today’s Word

Part of Speech

adjective

Definition

1. Marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness.
2. Characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please.
3. Deferential; obedient; dutiful.

History

The first known use of this word was in 1602, as meaning fawning attentiveness. This word comes from the Latin obsequiosus; from obsequium, or compliance; from obsequi to comply; from ob- toward + sequi to follow.

~obsequious

Synonyms

kowtowing, servile, subservient

Antonyms

defiant, mutinous, rebellious

Usage and Examples

Here are a couple of examples:

• Jack Duncan wasn’t so much obsequious as deferent, an unusual trait in a politician of his repute.
• The Talbot regime developed a sort of elaborate daily court ceremony, and obsequious flattery became the norm.