† abaisance Obs.
(əˈbeɪsəns)
[a. OFr. abaissance abasement, humility, n. of action f. abaissant pr. pple. of abaisser to lower: see abase. From the earliest period confused in Eng. with obeisance, Fr. obéissance, obedience, n. of action f. obéir to obey. A few writers in 7–8 tried in vain to restore the etymological distinction.]
The bending of the body as a mark of respect; a bow.
| [1393 Gower Conf. III. vi. iii. 75 And ate last he gan to lout And obeisaunce unto her make.] 1671 Skinner Etymol. Ling. Ang. To make a low abaissance. 1675 Art of Contentment iv. xv. 199 Haman can find no gust in all the sensualities of the Persian court, because a poor despicable Jew denies his abaisance. 1721 Bailey An Abaisance, a low Conge or Bow, a stooping down. 1755 Johnson Obeysance is considered by Skinner as a corruption of abaisance, but is now universally used. [1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. (C.D. ed.) xxiv. 193 Miss Snevellicci made a graceful obeisance.] |