/ əbˈsiːkwiəs; NAmE / adjective
( formal , disapproving ) trying too hard to please sb, especially sb who is important
SYN servile :
an obsequious manner
► ob·se·qui·ous·ly adverb :
smiling obsequiously
► ob·se·qui·ous·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (not originally in a negative sense): from Latin obsequiosus , from obsequium compliance, from obsequi follow, comply with.