O*be"di*ence (?), n. [F. ob'edience, 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.
© Webster 1913.