different between obsequious vs deference

English

Etymology

From Latin obsequi?sus (“complaisant, obsequious”) , from obsequium (“compliance”), from obsequor (“comply with, yield to”), from ob (“in the direction of, towards”) + sequor (“follow”) (see sequel).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?b?si?kwi.?s/

Adjective

obsequious (comparative more obsequious, superlative most obsequious)

1. (archaic) Obedient; compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
2. Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.
   • 1927, Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, p. 20

     Translation falls especially short of this conceit which carries the whole flamboyance of the Spanish language. It was intended as an obsequious flattery of the Condesa, and was untrue.
3. (obsolete) Of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal.

Synonyms

• (obedient): See also Thesaurus:obedient
• (fawning or subservient): fawning, ingratiating, servile, slavish, sycophantic, truckling, smarmy, asskissing ; see also Thesaurus:sycophantic

Derived terms

• obsequiously
• obsequiousness

Related terms

Translations

References

English

Etymology

From French déférence

Morphologically defer +? -ence.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?f???ns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?.f?.?ns/, /?d?.f??ns/

Noun

deference (countable and uncountable, plural deferences)

1. Great respect.

   The children treated their elders with deference.

2. The willingness to carry out the wishes of others.

   By tidying his room, he showed deference to his mother.

Synonyms

• honor
• respect

Translations