What is the adjective of obsequious?
adjective. characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; deferential; fawning: an obsequious bow; obsequious servants. obedient; dutiful.
What did the party call the obsequious waiters?
The party seated themselves with much noise and ostentation, and called the obsequious waiters. His obsequious manner changed at once, and he put his arm around her waist with a happy sense of proprietorship. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
What would happen if Mr Belcher was obsequious?
No man in the world understood Mr. Belcher better than the quick-witted and obsequious factor. Obsequious menials might even set the dogs at him, or trump up a charge against him and put him in jail. Bryany, sitting down opposite Edward Henry at the centre table, and reaching with obsequious liveliness for the dispatch-box.
What is the noun for obsequious?
Obsequious means servile, excessively obedient, overly-eager to please in a groveling manner. Obsequious is an adjective, the adverb form is obsequiously and the noun form is obsequiousness.
How do you use the word obsequious?
If you describe someone as obsequious, you are criticizing them because they are too eager to help or agree with someone more important than them. Barrow was positively obsequious to me until he learned that I too was the son of a laboring man. He smiled and bowed obsequiously to Wilson.
What does it mean to act obsequious?
/əbˈsiː.kwi.əs/ too eager to praise or obey someone: She is embarrassingly obsequious to anyone in authority. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Praising insincerely or too eagerly.
What is an example of obsequiousness?
The definition of obsequious is showing too much willingness to serve someone or something. An example of obsequious is a servant who dotes on his master. adjective.
What part of speech is the word toady?
verbverb (used without object), toad·ied, toad·y·ing.
Is sycophant a noun or verb?
noun. sy·co·phant | \ ˈsi-kə-fənt also ˈsī-, -ˌfant \
What's the difference between obsequious and sycophant?
Definition. Sycophancy refers to attempting to win favour from rich or influential people by flattering them. Obsequiousness refers to showing servile complaisance or deference. Thus, by definition, this is the fundamental difference between sycophancy and obsequiousness.
Can sycophant be a verb?
(transitive, rare) To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.
Is sycophant an adjective?
The adjective sycophantic is perfect for describing someone who uses flattery to get what they want.
Is obsequious positive or negative?
By the 1500s, however, the word had acquired its modern sense of being fawning and sycophantic, and it has decidedly negative connotations today. The term "obsequious" is often used to describe someone who is too eager to follow, obey, and serve.
Is sycophant an insult?
Such gesture, directed towards an inoffensive person, became an insult, and the word sycophant might imply one who insulted another by bringing a frivolous or malicious accusation against him.
What makes a person a sycophant?
A sycophant is a person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them. Also known as brown-nosers, teacher's pets or suck-ups.
Is obsequious derogatory?
obsequious (adj.) Pejorative sense of "fawning, sycophantic, unduly compliant" had emerged by 1590s.
What's the difference between obsequious and sycophant?
Definition. Sycophancy refers to attempting to win favour from rich or influential people by flattering them. Obsequiousness refers to showing servile complaisance or deference. Thus, by definition, this is the fundamental difference between sycophancy and obsequiousness.
What is another word for obsequiousness?
Some common synonyms of obsequious are servile, slavish, and subservient. While all these words mean "showing or characterized by extreme compliance or abject obedience," obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner.
What's a word for a sycophant?
Some common synonyms of sycophant are leech, parasite, sponge, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.
Where does the word "obsequious" come from?from merriam-webster.com
Use that fact to help you remember the meaning of "obsequious.". All you need to do is bear in mind that the word comes from the Latin root sequi, meaning "to follow.". (The other contributor is the prefix ob-, meaning "toward.") "Sequi" is the source of a number of other English words, too, including "consequence" ...
What is another word for obsequious?from merriam-webster.com
Some common synonyms of obsequious are servile, slavish, and subservient. While all these words mean "showing or characterized by extreme compliance or abject obedience," obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner.
What does "bowed in an obsequious manner" mean?from thefreedictionary.com
too humble or too ready to agree with someone. He bowed in an obsequious manner.
What does "subservient" mean?from merriam-webster.com
The meanings of subservient and obsequious largely overlap; however, subservient implies the cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position.
What is another word for obsequious?from merriam-webster.com
Some common synonyms of obsequious are servile, slavish, and subservient. While all these words mean "showing or characterized by extreme compliance or abject obedience," obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner.
What did the newcomers meet at the bar?from thesaurus.com
As the new-comers arrived, they met a smiling host, an attentive and ready bar-tender, and obsequious waiters and servants.
What does "subservient" mean?from merriam-webster.com
The meanings of subservient and obsequious largely overlap; however, subservient implies the cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position.
