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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

obeyance en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

From obey + -ance.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) obedience
    • One of the instructions given by experienced aviators to pupils, and for which they insist upon implicit obeyance, is: "If your machine gets more than 30 feet high, or comes closer to the ground than 6 feet, descend at once." 1912, W.J. Jackman, Thos. H. Russell, Flying Machines:
    • Poor fellow! how happy would a companion make you, to whom you could relate your battles, bouts, and courtships; but mum is the order, and Jack is used to an implicit obeyance of head-quarter orders. 1829, Various, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction:
    • The tall soldiers of Nyjord moved in ready obeyance of their commander. 1962, Harry Harrison, Planet of the Damned:

obeyance en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

Misspelling or alteration of abeyance, by association with obey.

Meanings

  1. (nonstandard, uncountable) abeyance
    • The disfiguring wrinkles that make many necks unsightly may be kept in obeyance by massaging. 1897, Dorothy Quigley, What Dress Makes of Us: