1. (n.) The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.

2. (n.) Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior.

5. (n.) One of the three monastic vows.

6. (n.) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject.

Quakerism acceptance accommodation accord accordance acquiescence adaptability adaptation adaption adjustment agreeability agreeableness agreement amenability assent complaisance compliance conformance conformation other-direction conformity congruity consent consistency conventionality correspondence deference docility dutifulness flexibility harmony homage humbleness humility keeping kneeling line malleability meekness nonopposal nonopposition nonresistance nonviolent resistance obeisance observance orthodoxy passive resistance passiveness passivity pliancy quietism reconcilement reconciliation resignation resignedness respect respectfulness strictness subjection submission submissiveness submittal subservience supineness tractability traditionalism uncomplainingness uniformity yielding