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OBEDIENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
Example:
the obedient colonies...are heavily taxed; the refractory remain unburdened
Classified under:
Similar:
acquiescent; biddable (willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another without protest)
conformable (quick to comply)
duteous; dutiful (willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect)
Y2K compliant (prepared to accurately process date and time data between and into the 20th and 21st centuries)
Also:
compliant (inclined to comply)
submissive (inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination)
good (having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified)
manageable (capable of being managed or controlled)
docile (willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed)
manipulable; tractable (easily managed (controlled or taught or molded))
Attribute:
obedience (the trait of being willing to obey)
Antonym:
disobedient (not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority)
Derivation:
obedience (behavior intended to please your parents)
obedience (the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person)
obedience (the trait of being willing to obey)
obey (be obedient to)
Context examples:
He allowed himself to be shoved away by her in much the same way that a ferocious but obedient dog allows itself to be shoved away by its master.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
Van Helsing stepped out, and, obedient to his gesture, we all advanced too; the four of us ranged in a line before the door of the tomb.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
To be obedient to them was to escape hurt and make for happiness.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
When it was clear, he said, with infinite respectability and an obedient bow, that she was not to be found, I went to Mr. James, at the place where it had been agreed that I should write to him, and informed him of what had occurred.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
"Come, you must be obedient."
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
When I wake I try to hypnotise her; but alas! though she shut her eyes obedient, she may not sleep.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
I was timidly following her, when she turned round at the parlour door, in the dusk, and taking me in her embrace as she had been used to do, whispered me to love my new father and be obedient to him.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair: he spent some three minutes in thrusting out his tongue at me as far as he could without damaging the roots: I knew he would soon strike, and while dreading the blow, I mused on the disgusting and ugly appearance of him who would presently deal it.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
My pupil was a lively child, who had been spoilt and indulged, and therefore was sometimes wayward; but as she was committed entirely to my care, and no injudicious interference from any quarter ever thwarted my plans for her improvement, she soon forgot her little freaks, and became obedient and teachable.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
