obedience
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of doing what an authority figure, a rule, or a law tells you to do.
the state or quality of being compliant with the commands or guidance of an authority.
Simple“The dog was praised for its perfect obedience during the training session.”
In context“The military demands absolute obedience from its soldiers to ensure that complex operations are carried out without hesitation or error.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a formal promise or duty to follow the rules of a religious leader or group.
the submission to the authority of a religious superior or the rules of a monastic order.
Simple“The monks took a vow of obedience to their abbot.”
In context“In many traditional religious orders, the vow of obedience is considered a fundamental pillar of spiritual discipline and communal harmony.”
UsageOften used in the context of monastic vows.
Synonyms
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.