Category:Obedience

O*be"di*ence, n. Etym: [f. obédience, l. obedientia, oboedientia. See Obedient, and cf.Obeisance.]

1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance With that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful Restraint or control. Government must compel the obedience of individuals. Ames.

2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. Shak.

3. (eccl.) (a) a following; a body of adherents; as, the roman catholic Obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority Of the pope. (b) a cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) one of the three monastic vows. Shipley. (d) the written precept of a superior in a religious order or Congregation to a subject. Canonical obedience. See under canonical. -- passive obedience. See under passive.