See Also: obey(dictionary)
obey(dictionary)

obey (iou)



obey verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French obeir from Latin oboedire, obedire, from ob- OB- + audire hear.]
verb trans. (orig. with dat.).
a. Comply with the bidding of; do what one is told to do by (a person); be obedient to. ME.
R. Thomas Provided that he was obeyed her father was his..kindly self.
b. Comply with, execute (a command etc.). LME.
G. Gissing Reuben had no choice but to obey the artist's directions. H. Belloc He went on obeying orders.
c. Submit to; follow (a principle, authority, etc.). Now rare or obsolete. LME.
Milton What obeyes Reason, is free.
d. Of a thing: be actuated by, respond to, (a force, impulse, etc.); act in accordance with (a law of nature, a constraint, etc.). L16.
N. Coward She obeyed her instincts. Model Engineer Coil springs..obey Hooke's Law.
verb intrans. Be obedient to. ME-M17.
Bible (AV): Romans 6:16 His servants ye are to whom ye obey.
verb intrans. Do what one is told to do; comply with a command etc.; be obedient. LME.
Tennyson Man to command and woman to obey. Tolkien 'Take the rope off, Sam!' said Frodo. Reluctantly Sam obeyed.
verb refl. Submit oneself to. LME-L15.
verb intrans. Astrology. Of a zodiacal sign or planet: be subject to the influence of another zodiacal sign or planet. LME.
verb intrans. & trans. Make an obeisance to or to; salute respectfully. LME-M17.
obeyable adjective (rare) that can or should be obeyed LME.
obeyance noun obedience; obeisance, homage: LME.
obeyer noun M16.