/ əʊˈbeɪsns; NAmE oʊˈbiːsns/ noun ( formal )
1.
[ U ] respect for sb/sth or willingness to obey sb
2.
[ C ] the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body in order to show respect for sb/sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense obedience ): from Old French obeissance , from obeissant obeying, present participle of obeir .