abaisance
n. C / Un. a physical movement, like a bow or a curtsy, that shows you have great respect for someone. It is an old-fashioned way to describe being very polite to a powerful person.
n. a physical gesture of deep respect or deference, such as a bow or curtsy. Often used in literary or historical contexts to describe formal submission to authority.
He made a low abaisance before the queen.
The messenger entered the throne room and performed a deep abaisance before delivering the urgent news to the king.
In the rigid hierarchy of the imperial court, even the smallest failure to perform a proper abaisance was viewed as a grave insult to the crown.
From Middle English abeisans, from Old French abaissance.
Often used with the verbs 'make', 'do', or 'perform'. An archaic spelling variant of 'obeisance', though still found in historical literature.