obeisance

/oʊˈbeɪsəns/

Group 11Difficulty 3/3

Definition

(noun)
Deferential respect; a gesture expressing this, such as a bow
GRE

Example in Context

Foreign dignitaries paid obeisance to the ancient traditions of the host nation during the elaborate state ceremony.

Synonyms

bowrespecthomage

Etymology

The state of obeying — showing respect through gestures.

  • obeir (Old French) — to obey
  • sance (Latin) — a state of

Memory Aid

🤲Sounds like “obey-sense

A dog doing a salute, saying 'I show OBEISANCE because I ALWAYS obey!'

Visual Association

🙇A knight bowing deeply before a king, with a dramatic flair.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “obeisance” mean on the GRE?

obeisance (noun) means “Deferential respect; a gesture expressing this, such as a bow”. Foreign dignitaries paid obeisance to the ancient traditions of the host nation during the elaborate state ceremony.

How to remember “obeisance” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “obeisance” sounds like “obey-sense”. A dog doing a salute, saying 'I show OBEISANCE because I ALWAYS obey!'

What are synonyms for “obeisance”?

Common synonyms: bow, respect, homage.