obeissance

Obeisance is a gesture of deference or homage, typically expressed through a physical act such as a bowing of the head, a bow from the waist, a curtsy, or a kneeling posture performed toward a person of higher rank, a sacred place, or a symbolic authority. It can also refer to a broader attitude of respectful submission or reverence. In ceremonial settings, obeisance accompanies greetings, formal introductions, or religious rites.

The word derives from Old French obeissance, from Latin obedientia, meaning obedience or deference. In English, the term is sometimes used metaphorically, as in paying obeisance to tradition or to a cultural norm.

Forms and contexts vary by culture: in monarchies a royal obeisance may involve a bow or curtsy; in religious practice, a genuflection or prostration can be described as obeisance; in diplomacy, officials may perform a formal bow or nod.

In modern usage, obeisance is relatively formal and somewhat archaic outside certain ceremonial contexts. The adjective form is obeisant, and the noun commonly appears with the phrase "pay obeisance to." The nonstandard spelling "obeissance" sometimes appears as a misspelling.

See also: bowing, curtsy, homage, deference, respect.