Added 8 October 2026
obedience
/ə(ʊ)ˈbiːdɪəns/ noun
In Latin: oboedientia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about obedience at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
The quality of being obedient.
Obedience is essential in any army.
- The collective body of persons subject to any particular authority.
- A written instruction from the superior of an order to those under him.
Origin
From Middle English obedience, from Anglo-Norman obedience, from Old French obedience (modern French obédience), from Latin oboedientia. Displaced native Old English hīersumnes (compare modern English hearsomeness). Cognate with obeisance.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)