obsequious

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“
I found him grandiose & obsequious, the template for a snob.

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Definitions (9)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. adjective Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (5)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • [307] When the commonalty are so obsequious, any title can be taken by the one necessary man. —  The Life of Napoleon I (Volume 1 of 2)
  • Despite her desire to be famous - or at least be near famous people - Griffin is not obsequious, at least in her stand-up specials.
  • Facebook drops a Whopper - You'll remember the hilarious Burger King Whopper Sacrifice promotion that offered you some cheap piece of meat in a bun in exchange of getting rid of 10 of your most obsequious or obscure Facebook friends? —  Megite Technology News: What's Happening Right Now
  • Fast-forward to 2005 when an obsequious, servile and scraping Daniel Mudd, CEO of Fannie Mae spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus swearing in ceremony for newly-elected Illinois Senator, Barack Obama. —  Israelated - English Israel blogs
  • The critics missed the point; far from being obsequious, Obama's double-barreled handshake violated the protocol for greeting royals. —  The Latest on Air America
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

deferential ·  servile ·  submissive ·  abject ·  respectful ·  apologetic ·  fawn ·  attentive ·  reverential ·  humble ·  courtly ·  officious
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Latin obsequiōsus, from obsequium, compliance, from obsequī, to comply : ob-, to; see ob- + sequī, to follow; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Early modern English obsequyous; from Old French obsequieux, French obséquieux = Spanish Portuguese obsequioso = Italian ossequioso, from Latin obsequiosus, compliant, submissive, from obsequium, compliance: see obsequy.
  2. from obsequy + -ous, after obsequious.
 

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/əbˈsikwɪəs/
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