OBEDIENCE


Meaning of OBEDIENCE in English

/oh bee"dee euhns/ , n.

1. the state or quality of being obedient.

2. the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance: Military service demands obedience from its members.

3. a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, esp. ecclesiastical.

4. Chiefly Eccles.

a. conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, esp. on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.

b. the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.

[ 1150-1200; ME oboedientia. See OBEDIENT, -ENCE ]

Syn. 2. submission, subservience, deference.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .