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.