Obsequious vs Deferent - What's the difference?
obsequious | deferent |
(archaic) Obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey all instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.
* 1927 , (Thornton Wilder), (The Bridge of San Luis Rey) , p. 20
(obsolete) Of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal.
*
*
Showing deference.
(obsolete) Serving to carry; bearing.
* Francis Bacon
(obsolete) That which carries or conveys.
* Francis Bacon
An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.
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As adjectives the difference between obsequious and deferent
is that obsequious is (archaic) obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes while deferent is deferential.obsequious
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Translation falls especially short of this conceit which carries the whole flamboyance of the Spanish language. It was intended as an obsequious flattery of the Condesa, and was untrue.
- … the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow…
- Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament
Th’ untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.
Usage notes
* In modern usage, not to be confused with obsequies as the “funereal” sense has become obsolete.Synonyms
* (fawning or subservient) fawning, ingratiating, servile, slavish, sycophantic, truckling, people pleaser, kiss-assdeferent
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Bodies deferent .
Derived terms
* deferentlyNoun
(en noun)- Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.