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obedience

Obedience O*be"di*ence, n. [F. ob[ e]dience, L. obedientia, oboedientia. See Obedient, and cf. Obeisance.] 1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control. [1913 Webster]

Government must compel the obedience of individuals. --Ames. [1913 Webster]

2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. (Eccl.) (a) A following; a body of adherents; as, the Roman Catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope. (b) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) One of the three monastic vows. --Shipley. (d) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject. [1913 Webster]

{Canonical obedience}. See under Canonical.

{Passive obedience}. See under Passive. [1913 Webster]