Obeysant

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A disposition marked by a willingness to conform to the directives of those in authority while demonstrating respect and honor
2. An attitude that reflects a readiness to follow and adhere to the wishes of others in a respectful manner
3. A characteristic that signifies a person’s readiness to comply with the demands of leaders while also showing reverence and deference

Etymology: "Obeysant" is an obsolete spelling of "obeisant," which means ready to comply with a superior's demands while showing respect and deference. The spelling "obeysant" shows the word's link to "obey," with the "-ant" ending that marks it as an adjective, much as "pleasant" or "servant" do. Obeisance itself traces back to the Old French "obeissance," from the verb "obeir" (to obey), itself from Latin "oboedire," meaning to listen to or heed. The spelling was later altered to "obeisant," which kept the meaning but dropped the visible connection to "obey."