obeisance — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Demonstration of an obedient attitude, especially by bowing deeply; a deep bow which demonstrates such an attitude.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; / Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

   More examples (2)

   But looking upwards in the blaze of the moon I suddenly saw colossi sitting near, and towering up and blotting out the stars and filling the night with blackness; and at those idols’ feet I saw praying and making obeisance kings and the days that are and all times and all cities and all nations and all their gods.

   The situation in the case of actions which are non-linguistic but similar to performative utterances in that they are the performance of a conventional action (here ritual or ceremonial) is rather like this: suppose I bow deeply before you; it might not be clear whether I am doing obeisance to you or, say, stooping to observe the flora or to ease my indigestion.

2. An obedient attitude.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting

   Synonyms

   bowbowing

   Broader terms

   reverencegesturemotion

2. the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person

   Synonyms

   obedience

   Broader terms

   submissioncompliance