obedience

Meaning

Noun

• The quality of being obedient.
• The collective body of persons subject to any particular authority.
• A written instruction from the superior of an order to those under him.
• Any official position under an abbot's jurisdiction.

Related

Similar words

• hearsomeness
• submission

Opposite words

• disobedience, defiance, rebellion (ignoring)
• violation (ignoring, especially rules)
• control, dominance (ruling)

Origin

• From Middle English obedience, from Anglo-Norman obedience, from Old French obedience (modern French obédience), from Latin oboedientia. Cognate with obeisance.