Obey

O*bey" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Obeying.] [OE. obeyen, F. obéir, fr. L. obedire, oboedire; ob (see Ob-) + audire to hear. See Audible, and cf. Obeisance.] 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord.

Was she the God, that her thou didst obey?

2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.

My will obeyed his will.

Afric and India shall his power obey.

3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.

O*bey", v. i. To give obedience.

Will he obey when one commands?

☞ By some old writers obey was used, as in the French idiom, with the preposition to.

His servants ye are, to whom ye obey.

He commanded the trumpets to sound: to which the two brave knights obeying, they performed their courses.