† obeyn.
Obsolete. rare.
= obedience n. 2. Only in at his obey: at his command.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > [noun]
doomc1000
strengthOE
obediencea1225
bandon?c1225
mastery?c1225
authority1340
bailliec1380
obeisancea1393
baila1400
mastership?a1425
jurisdictionc1425
masterdomc1475
reformation1523
maistrice1526
swinge1531
potentness1581
obey1584
masterfulnessa1586
prevailance1592
covert1596
magistrality1603
command1608
magistery1642
magisteriality1646
sway1765
tenure1871
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft xv. ii. 380 Six and twentie legions are at his obeie and commandement.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
obeyv.
/ə(ʊ)ˈbeɪ/, U.S. /əˈbeɪ/, /oʊˈbeɪ/α. Middle English obbei, Middle English obbey, Middle English obbeye, Middle English obeyȝe, Middle English obeyi, Middle English obie, Middle English–1500s obaie, Middle English–1500s obei, Middle English–1600s obay, Middle English–1600s obaye, Middle English–1600s obeie, Middle English–1600s obeye, Middle English– obey, 1600s obai; also Scottish pre-1700 obbaye, pre-1700 obeeing (present participle), pre-1700 obeing (present participle).
β. Middle English abeie, Middle English abey, Middle English–1500s abeye, 1500s abaye; Scottish pre-1700 abay.
1. † c. intransitive. To be obedient or to subject oneself to or unto a person. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To comply with or perform the bidding of; to do what one is commanded by (a person); to submit to the rule or authority of, or be obedient to (a person, institution, etc.).In quot. 1608: to comply with or accede to the request of; cf. obedient adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient to [verb (transitive)]
hearsumc900
hearc950
buxomc1305
obeya1325
servea1325
obeisha1382
obtempera1475
obtemperate?a1475
follow1523
mind1559
obseque1720
a1325 St. Wulfstan (Corpus Cambr.) 169 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 14 Forto obeie is souereins, he wende vorp.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 2612 (MED) Sche schal thilke man obeie And take him to hire housebonde.
c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 1255 She obeyed hym in euery thyng That myghte do hym plesance orlikyng.
c1400 Life St. Anne (Minn.) (1928) 2390 (MED) Fore he had bene þar fore, Þe schilder obayte hym mykkyll mor.
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe Introd. 66 God save the king..and alle that him feith berith and obeieth.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 793 Fra Gamlis peth the land obeyt him haill Til Vr wattir.
a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 69 Þi drede shall abide stille in his hert, and euer he shall obeye the [a1500 Lamb. be obeysant to þe] duryng all þi lyf.
?1529 S. Fish Supplicacyon for Beggers sig. A6v The highe powers shuld be alweys obeid.
1560 in D. H. Fleming Reg. Christian Congregation St. Andrews (1889) I. 37 I treatet, obeyed and served the said Williame.
1608 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 203 I cannot obey you, if you go to morrow to Parsons-green.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 25 It lately obeyed a Queen rectrix..but now submits to a King.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 101 The Lapythæ..taught the Steed..T' obey the Rider. View more context for this quotation
1715 M. Davies Εἰκων Μικρο-βιβλικὴ 252 Neither bound to..Obey an Excommunicated Queen.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. vi. 89 You shall be obeyed, my Lord.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Dora in Poems (new ed.) II. 36 I have obey'd my uncle until now.
1881 A. Trollope Dr. Wortle's School I. i. 4 They obeyed him, loved him, and believed in him.
a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) I. ix. 145 When he put the questions to Susan and Jeb he told them what answer was expected, and they obeyed him, Jeb muttering, Susan with a mere movement of the lips.
1950 W. Theimer & P. Campbell Encycl. World Politics 176/2 The Fuehrer Prinzip was the principle that the fuehrer had the right to command and the people the duty to obey him.
1984 R. Thomas Sunrise ii. 26 Provided that he was obeyed her father was his normal, calm, kindly self again.
b. intransitive. Usually with object implied. Of a person or group of people: to do what one is told to do; to comply with a command, etc.; to submit, be obedient.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient [verb (intransitive)]
bow?c1225
obeyc1375
obeisha1382
clinea1400
obtempera1492
obtemperate?1533
say1588
tell1859
c1375 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 3354 He shal be brend that wolde noght obeye.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. 729 (MED) Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille..every contre moste obeie.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 40 (MED) Whan charite hadde al ful seid and preched..many pilgrimes..were enclined to obeye.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) iv. l. 146 (MED) Euery man must obeye If he wil keepen his lyf on lofte.
c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 14v (MED) Þe pacientis owen to obeien in alle maner þingis þat ben perteynynge to þe cure of here syknesse.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. Table of Contents It is the duty of private men to obey, and not to make innovation of states after their own will.
1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 201 Obey and ceis the play that thow pretendis.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 38 Obey, and be attentiue. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 126 Him God..voutsafes To call by Vision..hee straight obeys . View more context for this quotation
1709 M. Prior Merry Andrew 27 Henceforth may I obey, and thou control.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man iii. 198 Thus let the Wiser make the rest obey.
1792 R. Bage Man as he Is I. xii. 137 This message I interpreted into a civil desire that I would leave her house as soon as I could. I obeyed.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in Poems (new ed.) II. 132 Will he obey when one commands?
1882 Harper's Mag. July 254/2 When she asked me to take the bee-laden limb, I obeyed.
1954 J. R. R. Tolkien Two Towers iv. i. 225 ‘Take the rope off, Sam!’ said Frodo. Reluctantly Sam obeyed.
1989 T. Tryon Night of Moonbow ii. ii. 83 They should have obeyed and avoided the place like a pesthouse.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. ii. 19 Alle folkis obeien to the kyng Antiochus.
Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 745 It is to obeie to þe bisshop of rome oþir to what euere oþir bisshop..in leful þingis.
c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 93 Nouþer þou obeyedest to God, ne we schal obeye to the.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 205 (MED) Alle þo þat holden onything of hire chirches..obeyen to him, as men don here to the Pope of Rome.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 85 To obeye beter to her husbonde.
a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 137 Panter, yoman of þe Cellere, butlere, & Ewere, y wille þat ye obeye to þe marshalle, Sewere, & kervere.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 122 (MED) Alle thy men..for drede of hym shull be full meke and fain to obbeye to the.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxxiv. 48 The Emperour..commaunded..that..all..his subgiettes shulde obey to the kyng of England.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. 205/29 Nochttheles thai obeyit weill eftir to thare capitanis the tyme of batall.
?1594 D. Monro Descr. W. Isles (1961) 11 [Rum] obeyis to McGillane or Doward instantlie.
1611 Bible (King James) Rom. vi. 16 To whom yee yeeld your selues seruants to obey, his seruants ye are to whom ye obey. View more context for this quotation
1651 tr. F. de Quintana Hist. Don Fenise 86 His conductresse prayed him to stay a little, to whom he obeyed.
2. † a. intransitive. To be compliant or subservient to or unto a principle, authority, law, etc. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. ii. 19 Y and my sonnys and my bretheren shuln obeie to the lawe of oure fadris.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gal. v. 7 Who lettide ȝou that ȝe obeyede not to treuthe?
?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. i. pr. v. 27 It is a sovereyn fredom to ben governed by the brydel of hym and obeye to his justice.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 70 (MED) The Romayns obeieden to the open resoun and proof which Seint Poul made.
a1475 (a1447) O. Bokenham Mappula Angliae in Englische Studien (1887) 10 24 (MED) Þis was þe particyoun of þese iii Bysshoperyches Jurisdiccioune: To Londone obeyed Cornewayle & alle Loegrie one-to Humbyr.
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 5782 (MED) The contre hoole obeyeth to his hand.
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1926) I. 64 The will of man obeit to ressoune.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. i. 5 Thatt all gentiles shulde obeye to the fayth which is in his name.
a1538 W. Holme Fall & Euill Successe Rebellion (1572) sig. F.iv He commaunded for kings to make intercession, And to Titus to obey to power and aucthoritie.
1604 S. Hieron Preachers Plea in Wks. (1620) I. 476 To obey from the heart vnto the forme of doctrine, wherevnto thou..art..deliuered.
1662 Duchess of Newcastle Female Academy v. 679 The young Ladies have learn'd so much Duty and Obedience, as to obey to what they shall think fit.
b. transitive. To submit to, act in accordance with, or follow (a principle, legitimate authority, law, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient to [verb (transitive)] > act in conformity to a rule or decree
to stand at ——c1300
to stand to ——c1300
usec1300
keep1387
abidea1393
obeya1393
stand?1435
answer1552
trace1649
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 2236 (MED) I that lawe obeie Of which the kinges ben put under.
1429 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1834) III. 331 Þaire ordennances and statutes to be obeied under suche peines as shal be þought convenable to be executed.
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. 611 (MED) Thou must considre, touchyng our bataile The ordynance and imposicioun, That which off vs in conquest do preuaile..He shal obeie the statut off resoun.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 3983 Latt þan þine erlis and þine erd myne empire obeyi.
1515 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 68 And be nocht hyr lettyris obeyt in the curt of Roume.
1539 Bible (Great) Rom. ii. 8 Vnto them that are rebelles, and that do not obey the trueth, but folowe vnrighteousnes [1611 doe not obey the trueth, but obey vnrighteousnes].
1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxi. 78 What taxes how oppressfull soeuer imposed vpon them-selues, they account it their duty to obey them.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 351 What obeyes Reason, is free. View more context for this quotation
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man iii. 213 Virtue..The same which in a Sire the Sons obey'd.
1796 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 389 I advised, that you should obey the voice of what we considered an indispensable duty.
1828 J. Neal Rachel Dyer xiii. 170 That blood is the blood of our brave, who would not obey the law.
1841 Kendall's Expositor I. 373 The Virginia Abstractionist..recognizes the obligations of oaths, the duty of obeying the Constitution [etc.].
1911 J. London Strength of Strong in Hampton's Mag. Mar. 314/1 So Sea-Lion said that Big-Fat's voice was truly the voice of God and must be obeyed.
1983 W. N. Rowe Clapp's Rock xii. 170 If the fishermen will not obey the law, then they must be made to obey the law... I am Minister of Justice and I say to you, give lawbreakers the cold steel.
3. † a. intransitive. To be obedient to or unto a command, request, etc. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 3012 We..ben redy to obeye to alle youre comandementz.
1426–7 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 9 [They] schuld stonde and obeye to þe ordinaunce of certeyns persones.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Legend St. Austin (Harl. 2255) l. 341 in Minor Poems (1911) i. 203 (MED) He is lord and kyng; Hevene and helle obeye to his biddyng.
c1470 tr. R. D'Argenteuil's French Bible (Cleveland) (1977) 46 (MED) Thou hast more obeyed to the comaundement of this woman then to myne.
c1530 Spirituall Counsayle E v Make me alwaye to obey to thy commaundementes.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft xv. viii. 402 I coniure thee..that thou doo obey to my words.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 337 To their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd . View more context for this quotation
1730 S. Duck Royal Benevolence 6 The Noble, Great and Powerful, humbly kneel; Submissive, full of Loyalty and Zeal: And ask but to obey to all Commands, Sign'd by such just and mutual Royal Hands.
b. transitive. To comply with, perform, or execute (a command, request, expressed wish, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient to [verb (transitive)] > execute command
servea1325
obeya1393
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. 2167 (MED) As leon is the king of bestes, So schal the world obeie his hestes.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2647 (MED) I afferme..her-vppon, euery þing obeie Þat may ȝou plese.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 41 (MED) Augustyn..forsok not þis conflicte but obeied rydily her peticion.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 826 (MED) Surquidous people..Obey his preceptis and may nat go ther fro.
a1500 Alexander-Cassamus (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Munich) (1911) 30 (MED) Tak hede That my comaundementes ȝe trewly obbeye.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 505 Chethes..Bade his doughter come doune..And sho obeit his bone.
1578 T. Timme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Gen. 255 How reverently His Word was to be obeied.
1620 ‘Kinde Kit of Kingstone’ Westward for Smelts sig. E3 They obeying her command, rushed into the Chamber, where they found the Priest.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 185 Let mee serve..God..and his Divine Behests obey . View more context for this quotation
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 466 Nations obey my word, and wait my nod.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 201 The ladies obeying the summons, came up in a group.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vi. 170 She immediately obeyed the mandate of the Abbess.
1855 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes II. xxvii. 249 Rosey was in a pupillary state... Her duty was to obey the wishes of her dear Mamma.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon I. 60 Brendon obeyed orders.
1904 H. Adams Mont-Saint-Michel & Chartres xi. 184 The knight, who was warned, as usual, to ask no questions,..obeyed the warning when he should have disregarded it.
1943 G. Greene Ministry of Fear i. vi. 100 Mr. Travers..had given his orders and if he didn't obey them he would have to find his way back alone.
1988 Independent 31 Aug. 1/5 Round here you do what you are told and obey the rules.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > accept without resistance [verb (transitive)] > give in or submit to action, treatment, or events
undergoc1175
give place1382
receivec1384
obeyc1390
to go under ——a1400
servec1400
underliec1400
submitc1425
subscribe1560
resign1593
stoop1611
to let loose1667
to qualify on1753
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2874 Wol ye thanne that I go and meke me and obeye me to hem and crie hem mercy?
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 265 (MED) Now that I wot my fadres wille..I wole obeie me therto.
c1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) ii. 247 (MED) Whan sche was come hom to Lynne, sche obeyd hir to hir confessowr.
a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) 3458 (MED) Þey a-beyȝedone hem no-thyng to þe kyngus hest.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 269 (MED) Obeye þi wyll to þi goddys wyll.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 270 Ȝif we be obedyent to oure prelatys & curatys, god schal obeye hym to oure prayerys.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 796 I have obeyde me unto the prophesye that my fadir tolde me.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 104 Wele ye Than obbey yow to this eleccion?
5. † a. intransitive. Esp. of an inanimate object or involuntary agent: to respond to or unto a thing, impulse, or compulsion. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action > specifically of inanimate things
obeyc1390
feel1559
perceive1626
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2740 Salomon seith that alle thynges obeyen to moneye.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Hunterian) f. 51v (MED) Sucche ligamentes be manye and ffebel, ffor ȝif þei were fewe and stronge, þei schulde not so liȝtlye obeyen to þe manyfolde meuyng of þe heuede and off þe necke.
c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Prol. 90 An harpe obeieth to the hond.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 65 He sygh that his body..wolde not obeye to him.
?1566 J. Alday tr. P. Boaistuau Theatrum Mundi sig. T ij b So that his spirites..was constrained to obey to the harmony that proceeded from the instrument.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. xix. 181 For that all obeys to golde and silver.
1625 T. Heywood Funeral Elegie Death King Iames sig. C3 Yet Nature will haue course, Kings and Kings Sons Must all obey to passion.
b. intransitive. Usually with object implied. Esp. of an inanimate object or involuntary agent: to respond to a prompt or impulse; to act as if in obedience to something or someone.
ΚΠ
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 1770 (MED) Lawe of kynde [is] constreyned..lowly to obeye In euery þing þat hym list ordeyne.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 12 Adamant..draweth it [sc. iron] to it, and this last followeth and obeyeth.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Diiijv Her lips are conquerers, his lips obay, Paying what ransome the insulter willeth. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 272 To speak I tri'd..My Tongue obey'd . View more context for this quotation
1695 J. Dryden tr. R. de Piles in tr. C. A. Du Fresnoy De Arte Graphica 120 The Muscles..are so many Well-buckets; when one of them acts and draws, 'tis necessary that the other must obey.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. xiv. 287 Safe through the level seas we sweep our way; The steer-man governs, and the ships obey.
1738 tr. S. Guazzo Art of Conversat. 66 Where Sense imperious bears the Sway, Reason must truckle and obey.
a1763 J. Byrom Enthusiasm in Poems II. 180 Mind governs Matter, and it must obey.
1827 S. B. H. Judah Buccaneers II. v. 373 The white foam tossed and raved as it went, like a steed that battles against the rider it must obey.
1874 B. Taylor Prophet i. viii. 73 It falls; it falls! The world is coming to an end! He spake, And it obeyed!
1910 E. A. Robinson Town down River in Coll. Poems (1937) 354 The music that the Master made When all the morning stars obeyed.
1990 R. Jordan Eye of World ix. 120 His body twitched, ready to obey.
c. transitive. Esp. of a thing or involuntary agent: to act according to or as compelled by (a thing, agency, force, etc.); to be actuated by.
ΚΠ
c1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert (1910) 103 (MED) He was obedient to Him þat mad him, whom wynde and water obeyen.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. iii. 182 His dissolute disease will scarse obey this medicine. View more context for this quotation
1646 J. Hall Horæ Vacivæ 146 He..that can make his hand obey the judgement of his eye.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. iii. 183 Beasts..obey the prescript of their Natures, and live up to the height of that instinct that Providence hath given them.
1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1874) II. Pref. 14 Brutes obey their instincts.
1773 R. Graves Spiritual Quixote III. xvi. 235 He had a considerable independent fortune; which enabled him to obey the impulse of a generous and humane disposition.
1814 Ld. Byron Corsair i. xvii. 29 He marks how well the ship her helm obeys.
1847 W. E. Channing Poems 2nd Ser. 147 The supple limbs obey The natural instinct.
1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §67 A perfect gas obeys Gay Lussac's law.
1906 J. London White Fang v. iii. 298 He obeyed the impulse, but was checked by the master's voice.
1930 N. Coward Private Lives I. 19 She obeyed her instincts..and saved her life.
1977 N. Adam Triplehip Cracksman v. 56 I wasn't sure I liked myself..rogue male acting instinctively, obeying the territorial imperative.
a. intransitive. To do obeisance or homage; to bow (to or unto a person). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 6364 (MED) He scholde don honour To the virgine, and in the weie, Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie In worschipe of virginite.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1996 I wole that thou obay Fully, for thyn avauntage, Anoon to do me heere homage.
c1475 Babees Bk. (Harl. 5086) (2002) i. 4 At euery tyme obeye vnto youre lorde Whenne yee answere.
a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) 1620 (MED) Permeon..askys hym..Why he obeyd & bowed so to þe bischop of Iewes?
a1516 H. Medwall Godely Interlude Fulgens ii. sig. f.ii v Every cytezen that passith that way By the sayde Images he must obey And to that fygures make a due reuerence.
b. transitive (reflexive) in the same sense. Also (occasionally) in passive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for > do obeisance to
honourc1275
worshipc1390
obeya1393
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 1529 (MED) Hire oghne lord cam nyh And is to themperour obeied.
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 117 Sche, obeyng hir to þe Meir, preyd hym to ben in charite wyth hyr..& forȝeuyn hir any thyng þat sche had displesyd hym.
a1650 Sir Lambewell 577 in F. J. Furnivall Percy Folio I. 162 She..obayd her to the King soe hend, & tooke leaue away to wend.
c. transitive. To salute (a person) respectfully; to do obeisance or homage to, or make a bow to (a person). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use courteous actions or expressions to [verb (transitive)]
obeya1450
accomplement1601
to do (also perform) the honoura1645
complement1649
forsooth1661
complimenta1704
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 6268 Whan he come to his presence, He obeid him with grete reuerence.
c1450 (c1430) Brut (Galba) (1908) 434 (MED) He bowid and obeyid the Bisshop, and toke hym byfore hym.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [verb] > rule
obeya1450
to rule a planet1488
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe ii. §28.40 Gemini obeieth to Cancer, and Taurus to Leo, [etc.]... And thus evermore 2 signes that ben ilike fer fro the heved of Capricorne obeyen everich of hem til othir.
1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. at Northern signs Also called commanding signs, because planets in them are said to command, and those in the opposite signs to obey.
Phrases
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient [verb (intransitive)] > render obedience due
to obey obediencec1426
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 11 Þai most obey obedyans þat þai be boundon to.
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 16 And obey obedyans, and kepe obseruans.
P2. Nautical Proverb. obey orders, if (also though) you break owners and variants: obey orders, even when they are wrong or misguided, or involve doing wrong.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient [verb (intransitive)] > obey orders even when wrong
obey orders, if (also though) you break owners1802
1782 W. Gordon Let. 30 Nov. in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1930) LXIII. 476 You will be safe, though you break orders that would break your owners.]
1802 S. Dorr Let. 1 Aug. in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1945) 67 320 Adhere to the Vulgar Adage (nevertheless true) Obey Orders or break Owners.
1828 J. Neal Rachel Dyer xx. 248 You're but a child however, and so I forgive you, and the more's the pity; must obey orders if we break owners.
1849 H. Melville Redburn vi. 45 The motto is, ‘Obey orders, though you break owners’.
1915 J. E. Patterson Epist. from Deep Seas xiv. 300 There was the unwritten shipboard law: ‘Obey orders, even if you break owners.’
1924 R. Clements Gipsy of Horn iii. 50 What could be sounder than ‘Obey orders, if you break owners’—meaning, do as you're told, even if you know it's wrong.
1975 J. R. L. Anderson Death in North Sea (1976) iv. 73 I was brought up on the old sea maxim, ‘Obey orders if you break owners.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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