OBSEQUIOUSNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does obsequiousness mean? 

• OBSEQUIOUSNESS (noun)
  The noun OBSEQUIOUSNESS has 1 sense:

1. abject or cringing submissiveness

  Familiarity information: OBSEQUIOUSNESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBSEQUIOUSNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Abject or cringing submissiveness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

obsequiousness; servility; subservience

Hypernyms ("obsequiousness" is a kind of...):

submissiveness (the trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a superior force etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "obsequiousness"):

sycophancy (fawning obsequiousness)

Derivation:

obsequious (attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner)

obsequious (attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery)

 Context examples 

A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)