obsequious etymology

Etymology:

• From Middle French obsequieux, from Anglo-Norman obsequeux, from Medieval Latin obsequiosus, chiefly in the sense of "performing religious rites," from Latin obsequi "to comply with, obey, perform duties," from ob- "in the way" and sequi "to follow."

Meaning:

• Excessively attentive or submissive to a superior, often in a fawning or servile manner.

Origin:

• The word "obsequious" originated in the Latin language, where it had the meaning of "complying with, obeying, performing duties." This meaning is derived from the root word "sequi," which means "to follow."

• The prefix "ob-" in "obsequious" indicates that the action of following is being done in a specific direction or manner. In this case, the direction is towards a superior or authority figure.

• Over time, the meaning of "obsequious" evolved to include the idea of excessive attentiveness or submissiveness. This shift in meaning likely occurred due to the association of obsequious behavior with those who sought to gain favor or avoid disfavor from those in power.

obsequious relate terms

• obsequy

  Etymology The word obsequy comes from the Latin word obsequium meaning obedience c

• obsequious

  Etymology From Middle French obsequieux from Anglo Norman obsequeux from Medieval Lat

• associate

  Etymology Definition The study of the origin and history of words Origin Greek et

• association

  Etymology Latin associāre meaning to unite to join together to associate As

• consequence

  Etymology and Meaning of Consequence Origin Middle French consequence Late Latin

• consequent

  Etymology Late Middle English from Latin consequens present participle of consequi f

• dissociate

  Etymology dis Latin prefix meaning apart or undo socius Latin meaning companio

• ensue

  Etymology Old French ensuir to follow after Latin insequi to follow after Proto I

• execute

  Etymology The word execute originates from the Latin word exsequor which means to c

• extrinsic

  Etymology The term extrinsic originates from the Latin word extrinsecus which means

• intrinsic

  Etymology Intrinsic comes from the Latin word intrinsecus meaning within or int

• obsequious

  Etymology From Middle French obsequieux from Anglo Norman obsequeux from Medieval Lat

• persecute

  Etymology From Middle French persécuter from Late Latin persecutī the gerund of per

• prosecute

  Etymology Origin Latin Word Roots pro forward sequi follow Meaning

• pursue

  Etymology Pursue originates from the Old French word poursuivre which means to foll

• second

  Etymology The word second comes from two separate etymologies First etymology From t

• second

  Etymology The word second comes from two separate etymologies First etymology From t

• sect

  Etymology The word sect is derived from the Latin word secta meaning a cutting or

• secundine

  Etymology The word secundine is derived from the Latin word secundae which means af

• segue

  Etymology Segue is derived from the Italian word seguire meaning to follow Mean

• sequacious

  Etymology Latin sequax sequacious following From sequi to follow Meaning Ten

• sequel

  Etymology The word sequel comes from the Latin word sequēla which means a following

• sequence

  Etymology Old French sequence Latin sequentia From the verb sequi to follow

• sequester

  Etymology Late Latin sequestrare to remove set apart from Latin se apart quaere

• sociable

  Etymology Latin sociabilis sociare to unite join Proto Indo European sewḱ

• social

  Meaning and Origin of Social Etymology Social etymology refers to the process by which wo

• society

  Etymology The word society comes from the Latin word societas which means associat

• socio

  Etymology and Origin of Socio The word socio has its roots in two Latin terms soc

• subsequent

  Etymology Latin subsequens meaning following or coming after From the prefix s

• suit

  Etymology The word suit originates from the Old French word sute or suite which m

• suite

  Etymology The word suite originates from the Old French word suite meaning followin

• tocsin

  Etymology of Tocsin The word tocsin derives from the Old French word toquesein wh

• spaniel

  Etymology The word spaniel is derived from the Old French espaignol which means fro

• supple

  Etymology Late Latin supplis noun and supplere verb Meaning to fill up to sup

• festive

  Etymology Middle English festeive from Old French festiu which in turn derived f

• bias

  Etymology Origin Middle English bias from Old French bias from Late Latin biāc

• orange

  Etymology Late Middle English as an adjective from Old French orenge from orenge f

• turkey

  Etymology The word turkey derives from the following sources Old French Turkie M

• Florida

  Etymology and Meaning The name Florida comes from the Spanish word florido meaning

• perpendicular

  Etymology and Meaning The word perpendicular comes from the Latin words per through

• skill

  Etymology The word skill derives from the Old Norse word skil meaning discernment