different between obsequious vs deferent

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 déférent, from Latin d?fer?ns, d?ferentis.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?f???nt/

Adjective

deferent (comparative more deferent, superlative most deferent)

1. Showing deference.
2. (obsolete) Serving to carry; bearing.

Derived terms

• deferently

Related terms

• deferential

Translations

Noun

deferent (plural deferents)

1. (anatomy) A deferent duct in the body, as opposed to an afferent one.
2. (obsolete) That which carries or conveys.
3. (obsolete, Ptolemaic astronomy) An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

Latin

Verb

d?ferent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of d?fer?

Romanian

Etymology

From French déférent, from Latin deferens.

Adjective

deferent m or n (feminine singular deferent?, masculine plural deferen?i, feminine and neuter plural deferente)

1. deferential

Declension