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.
What does Obsequis mean?
characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; fawning; deferential: an obsequious bow;obsequious servants.
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. (archaic) Obedient, compliant with someone else’s orders or wishes.
What does acting obsequious mean?
adjective. ob·se·qui·ous | \ əb-ˈsē-kwē-əs , äb- \ Essential Meaning of obsequious. disapproving : too eager to help or obey someone important She’s constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
Which of the following is an appropriate synonym for the word obsequious?
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 obsequious sycophant mean?
parasite, sycophant, toady, leech, sponge mean a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker. parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society. a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.
Where did obsequious come from?
It comes from the adjective obsequious, which ultimately comes from the Latin obsequi, meaning “to comply with.” If you are performing acts of obsequiousness, you are following the orders of whoever gave the orders to you. The word obsequiousness can refer to both willing and unwilling submission.
Can you be obsequious?
Obsequious people are usually not being genuine; they resort to flattery and other fawning ways to stay in the good graces of authority figures. An obsequious person can be called a bootlicker, a brownnoser or a toady.
Is obsequiousness a word?
Obsequiousness is not a commonly used word. The word obsequiousness comes from the adjective obsequious, which describes someone demonstrating obedience and eagerness to please, as in The duchess had a team of obsequious servants.
What does obsequiousness mean?
obsequiousness noun Follow Along With the Definition of Obsequious An obsequious person is more likely to be a follower than a leader. Use that fact to help you remember the meaning of “obsequious.”
Who is the obsequious sidekick?
Randy is Mr. Lahey’s obsequious sidekick, lover and Sunnyvale’s assistant trailer park supervisor. Submission here means to be subsequent or responsive, not necessarily obsequious or subservient. And in Congress politics, fulsome flattery and obsequious loyalty play a vital role.
Why were the little shrill voices obsequious and servile?
Both little shrill voices were obsequious with the information that he had gone towards the leat. Expect random violence, obsequious toadying and down right rudeness while you try to enjoy a three-course meal without choking with laughter. They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3qNTkTYd6I