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Obeisance vs Prostration - What's the difference?

obeisance | prostration |

As nouns the difference between obeisance and prostration

is that obeisance is demonstration of an obedient attitude, especially by bowing deeply; a deep bow which demonstrates such an attitude while prostration is the act or condition of prostrating (lying flat) oneself, as a sign of humility.

obeisance

English

Alternative forms

* obeisaunce, obeissance, abaisance (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Demonstration of an obedient attitude, especially by bowing deeply; a deep bow which demonstrates such an attitude.
  • * 1845 , ":
    • Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
    In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
    Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
    But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door —
    Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door —
    Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
  • * 1962 , , How To Do Things With Words (OUP paperback edition), p. 69:
    • The situation in the case of actions which are non-linguistic but similar to performative utterances in that they are the performance of a conventional action (here ritual or ceremonial) is rather like this: suppose I bow deeply before you; it might not be clear whether I am doing obeisance to you or, say, stooping to observe the flora or to ease my indigestion.
  • An obedient attitude.

    • Usage notes

    * Usually in the phrases do obeisance'' or ''make obeisance . English words not following the I before E except after C rule

    prostration

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or condition of prostrating (lying flat) oneself, as a sign of humility.
  • A part of the ordination of Catholic and Orthodox priests.
    • The ordination ceremony includes a variety of rituals, rich in meaning and history, e.g., the prostration , laying on of hands, anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and paten, and sign of peace. — Diocese of Rochester, NY
  • Being laid face down (prone).
  • The condition of being prostrated, as from heat.
  • A reverential bow performed in Middle Eastern cultures.

    • Usage notes

    * Outside of ordination, prostration as a sign of humility has never been part of the Western tradition, but was present in the Middle-Eastern and Asian traditions.

    Derived terms

    * heat prostration

    Synonyms

    *sujud