O*be"di*ence (?), n. [F. obédience, 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.
Government must compel the obedience of individuals.
Ames.
2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. Shak.
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.
Canonical obedience. See under Canonical. -- Passive obedience.
See under Passive.
Hear it pronounced