▪ I. † ˈobsequy1 Obs.
Also 6 obseque, 6–7 obsequie.
[ad. L. obsequi-um compliance, complaisance, obedience, in pl. acts of compliance, f. obsequī to follow or comply with, f. ob- (ob- 1 a) + sequī to follow. Partly a. obs. F. obseque ‘obéissance’ (a 1420 in Godef.).]
Ready compliance with the will or pleasure of another, esp. of a superior; deferential service; obsequiousness.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 219 Bestes and other creatures, whiche were create..to the obsequy of subieccion [ad obsequium subjectionis]. Ibid. III. 35 Ligurgus ȝafe lawes.. movenge peple to the obsequy of princes. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 333 b/1 He gaf fyrst to his neyghbour his power in aydynge and obsequyes. c 1550 Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 111, I owe him not only obeysaunce but also the obseque I can. 1652 Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Hist. Relat. 39 Very great is the obsequie which the whole People shew unto him. [a 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iv. ii. 308 We find every Command of the Divine Will..answered by an immediate obsequium in the created Matter.] |
b. Ritual services, rites. rare.
| 1550 Bale Apol. 30 Appoynted to the ceremoniall obsequyes in the howse of God. 1605 Chapman All Fooles Plays 1873 I. 127 You enioye a husband and may freely Performe all obsequies you desire to loue. |
▪ II. obsequy2 now always in pl. obsequies.
(ˈɒbsɪkwɪz)
Forms: sing. 5 obseque, 5–6 -qui, -quye, (6 oseque), 6–8 obsequie, 5–8 -quy; pl. 4– obsequies, (6 -cuyce).
[a. AF. obsequie (also OF., 1316 in Godef.), = usual OF. obsèque (osèque, etc., 12th c.), pl. obsèques, ad. med.L. obsequiæ, acc. pl. obsequiās.
A solitary and doubtful instance of late L. obsequiās (otherwise read exsequiās) occurs in an inscription. Late or Med.L. obsequiæ appears to have arisen through mixture of exsequiæ funeral rites, and obsequium dutiful service; see these words in Du Cange, and cf. exequy.]
Funeral rites or ceremonies; a funeral. † Formerly sometimes including commemorative rites or services (performed at the grave of the deceased or elsewhere), or denoting these alone. † a. sing. Obs.
| c 1475 Partenay 2332 His funerall obseque to-morn we do. 1535 MS. (Sotheby's Constable Cat. Oct. 1899), Here folowythe the Oseque and intierment of the Right highe and excelent Prences Lade Kateryn. 1558 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 111, I will that my executors..shall maik one obsequi yerely for my soull in the place whear I am buried. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 86 Nor the seuenth day onely, but the seuenth moneth and yeere, within their owne houses they renue this obsequie. 1671 Milton Samson 1732 To fetch him hence, and solemnly attend With silent obsequie and funeral train Home to his Fathers house. 1705 Luctus Brit. 2 Without some Mournful Pomp and Obsequie. |
b. pl.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 135 To the ladyes he restored agayn The bones of hir housbondes that weren slayn To doon obsequies as was tho the gyse. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 192/1 The mayde..kepte hym in vygylles wyth lyghtes and in deuyne obsequyes as long as she lyued. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 36 The kynge..caused her obsecuyce to be done ryght solempnely in the chirche. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. i. i. 160 Loe at this Tombe my tributarie teares, I render for my Bretherens Obsequies. 1670 Dryden Conq. Granada v. i, See perform'd their Fun'ral Obsequies. 1746 Smollett Reproof 143 At Peter's obsequies I sung no dirge. 1877 Gladstone Glean. IV. xxxv. 364 We thus provide the Sultan with abundant funds for splendid obsequies. |