LESSON 15: Is There Anything I Can Do For You, Master? Words Relating to Humility and Obedience

Compliant Yielding, submissive Mrs. Hayes prefers compliant students, those who’ll do everything they are told. If you comply with the school rules, you won’t get into trouble. Rose always complies with Charles’s requests. She never says no. Adjective Yielding, submissive

Fawning Mike advised me to stop fawning over Dawn. “She’ll like you just as well even if you don’t overindulge her,” he said. Fawning is a form of manipulation to win favors and get what you want from others. As a fawning advisor to the Queen, Peters told Her Majesty only what she wanted to hear. Adjective Gaining the favor of another by acting overly kind or by using flattery

Obsequious Uriah practiced obsequiousness by always telling others what a privilege it was to be of service to them. Some teachers prefer obsequious students who fawn over them. Hoping for a big tip, the waiter oozed obsequiousness, constantly flattering me and calling me “sir.” Adjective Obeying or performing a service for someone in an overly attentive manner

Servile Slave-like; very humble and submissive Roy has no right to treat you like a servile lackey. You are not his slave or valet. I hate having a servile job. It’s not in my nature to bow to the whims of others. Susan’s servility caused her to cater to everyone’s desires but her own. Adjective Slave-like; very humble and submissive

Slavish Slave-like; overly humble; involving very hard work Nicole worked slavishly in the kitchen preparing dinner for thirty guests. Harry followed Sally around, slavishly attending to her every need. Don had a slavish sidekick who did the dirty work and devoted himself to Don’s well-being. Adjective Slave-like; overly humble; involving very hard work

Submissive Voluntarily obeying another; humble Lauren was attracted to submissive friends, people who’d do everything she asked of them. Over time, Lenny learned to be less submissive. He actually stood up to George once in a while. A recruit has to be submissive to the sergeant or he’s going to get into big trouble. Adjective Voluntarily obeying another; humble

Subordinate Inferior; lower in rank or status In a sentence, a subordinate (dependent) clause depends on the main (independent) clause for its meeting. The general was accused of insubordination after defying the president’s order. For the sake of good discipline, officers are forbidden to fraternize with their subordinate unit members. Adjective Inferior; lower in rank or status

Subservient Obedient; obsequious In my grandmother’s day, a wife was expected to be subservient to her husband. Ricky asked subserviently, “May I please be excused, sir, for just a minute or two?” The apprentice played a subservient role, trying to serve his master in every way. Adjective Obedient; obsequious

Sycophant The king couldn’t distinguish the honest advisers from the sycophants who flattered him for personal gain. Myron couldn’t get a promotion on his merits, so he got one by being a sycophant to his boss. Jason made a sycophantic speech full of praise and flattery for the chairman. Noun A self-server who tries to gain the favor of others through the use of flattery or by being over attentive

Toady A flatterer; a sycophant Hoping to win the coach’s favor, James became the coach’s toady. If Mary were less of a toady, she wouldn’t follow the teacher around so much. Volunteering to wash the coach’s car shows what a toady Karen has become. Noun A flatterer; a sycophant