obeisant, a. (n.)
(əʊˈbeɪsənt)
Forms: 3–8 obeysant, 4–6 -aunt, obeissant, -aunt, 5 obeyssant, -aunt, (obeyssiant, obeiceant), 4– obeisant; also 4–5 obeisch-, obesch-, 5 obeyshaunt.
[a. F. obéissant, pr. pple. of obéir:—L. obēdīre to obey: see -ant.]
† 1. = obedient 1. Obs. exc. as in 2.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10355 Þat þou to god & to holi⁓chirche obeysant were. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 277 Þat clerkis be meke & obeschaunt to worldly lordis. 1382 ― Exod. xxiv. 7 We shulen be obeysaunt. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 4 He..found hem more lowly and obeyshaunt to him than any othir were. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 3 Your verray true obeisaunt subjectis. 1546 Supplic. Commons (E.E.T.S.) 76 We, your..most obeisant leage people. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xiii. 164 Be obeysant to God and mans Lawis. |
† b. Subject; = obedient 1 b. Obs.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxv. 263 Many ben obeyssant to the greate Chane. 1485 Caxton Trevisa's Higden ii. viii. (1527) 66 [He] made them all longe and be obeyssaunt to y⊇ kyngdome of Rome. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 78 Al regionis circulit with the occeane sees, ar obeysant to Romane lawis. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxxi. vii. 410 They..joyned themselves unto him, as duetiful and obeisant allyes. |
† c. Compliant: = obedient 3. Obs.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xi. 41 Þat þai schuld..be obeischaunt to myne askynges. |
d. fig. = obedient 4. Obs. or arch.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas vii. iv. (1554) 167 b, Of heauenly cours the disposicion Is obeysaunt and subiect to reason. 1818 Milman Samor 178 The bark obeisant to its dashing oars. |
2. Showing respect or deference, deferential; humbly or servilely obedient, obsequious.
| 1642 Rogers Naaman 99 If Eglon an heathen King, hearing of a charge from God was so obeysant, as to come off his throne, and worship God. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iv. ii, Obeysant servants, honour, wealth, and ease. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) V. ix. viii. 414 They were commanded to be the obeisant executioners of punishments..of which they did not admit the justice. 1878 Masque Poets 27 The obeisant slaves would bring rare cups. |
b. Doing obeisance; offering homage; bowing.
| 1900 Expositor Jan. 77 Joseph dreams of obeisant sheaf and obeisant star. |
† B. n. One who is obedient, an obedient servant, one under authority, a subordinate. Obs.
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 30 In defaute of largesse to youre obeissauntes. 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 110 A distinction betwixt a Iesuit commandant, and a Iesuit obeisant. |