noun one of the three monastic vows.
2. obedience ·noun a cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior.
3. obedience ·noun words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness.
4. obedience ·noun the written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject.
5. obedience ·noun a following; a body of adherents; as, the roman catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope.
6. obedience ·noun the act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.