obsequiousnessn.

1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 5440 In al þis tyme wych so besyly She shewyd þis meke obsequyousnesse.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John xii. 82 This womans obsequiousnesse and benefite towardes me.

1582 R. Mulcaster 1st Pt. Elementarie iii. 13 Their obsequiousnesse to those that ar aboue them enforceth their vnder ones officiouslie to obay, both the chefe souerain, & also them themselves.

1638 W. Rawley tr. F. Bacon Hist. Nat. & Exper. Life & Death 90 A singular good Mother, and Wife; And yet, no lesse Famous, for her Libertie, than Obsequiousnesse towards her Husband.

1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina ii. 162 The prudence of your General commanded the attempt, and the obsequiousnesse of your Majesties servants under subscribing, atchieved it.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 502 Men of a thorough paced obsequiousness.

1767 W. L. Lewis tr. Statius Thebaid II. x. 923 (note) In order to win her Affections by his Obsequiousness.

1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. viii. 76 Monsieur Gabelle was the Postmaster, and some other taxing functionary, united; he had come out with great obsequiousness to assist at this examination.

1902 N.E.D. at Obsequy¹ Ready compliance with the will or pleasure of another, esp. of a superior; deferential service; obsequiousness.

1613 A. Sherley Relation Trav. Persia 107 According to the corrupt condition of all Courts, in which the loue of obsequiousnesse to the Prince..is more power-able then the feare to do ill.

a1732 J. Gay Fables (1738) II. iii. 18 With what obsequiousness they bend! to what vile actions condescend!

1759 S. Johnson Rasselas II. xxxviii. 87 His women..looked on me with malignity; but being soon informed that I was a great lady..they began to vie with each other in obsequiousness and reverence.

1814 M. Edgeworth Patronage I. vi. 185 He was all obsequiousness and flattery.

1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Real Charlotte I. vi. 81 ‘Have done! Sailor! Blasht yer sowl! Have done!’ then, with honeyed obsequiousness, ‘yer honour's welcome, Mr. Lambert.’

1918 Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 28 460 Only those will be happy in a democracy who prefer to be greeted neither by the upward slant of obsequiousness nor by the downward slant of condescension, but by the horizontal glance of fraternal self-respect.

1963 Times 7 May 11/5 He condemned tipping. ‘God forbid that such fawning obsequiousness should be encouraged here,’ he said.

2000 E. Garcia Anonymous Rex ii. 18 ‘I'd be very grateful for the opportunity,’ I tell Teitelbaum, trying to keep the pushpins out of the syrupy drawl of my obsequiousness.