Where does “obsequiously” come from?

Obsequiously derives from English obsequious, from Latin obsequiosus, from Latin obsequium meaning compliance or service, formed from Latin ob- meaning toward and Proto-Indo-European līg- meaning to bind.

obsequiously (English): in an obsequious manner

Definitions

  1. in an obsequious manner

Ancestry of “obsequiously”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishobsequiousObedient; compliant with someone else's orders or...
2Latinobsequiosusobsequious, complaisant, complying
3LatinobsequiumComplaisance, yielding, compliance; deference,...
4LatinobsequorI accommodate myself to the will of another...
5Latinob-towards; against
6Latinobolusobolus (Greek coin)
7Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
8Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
9Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
10Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos
11Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH-Every word from Latin ob-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷélHos