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obsequies. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
obsequies, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
obsequies in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
obsequies you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Plural of obsequy; from Middle English obsequias, obsequies, obsequyes, from Latin obsequiae.
Pronunciation
Noun
obsequies pl (plural only)
- (plural only) Funeral rites.
1834, L E L, chapter XIX, in Francesca Carrara. , volume III, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 163:A murmur of astonishment ran through the chapel. It was hushed instantly, for, at a sign from Lord Avonleigh, the coffin was carried into the vault; and again the voice of the priest was the only sound, breathing the last and solemn benediction of the mournful obsequies.
Usage notes
- The plural only usage is favored by the Oxford Dictionary,[1] and thus can be considered to be British, whereas Webster's dictionary, with prevalence of the usage in the plural being noted, gives both singular and plural forms of the word.[2][3]
- In modern usage, not to be confused with obsequious.
Translations
Noun
obsequies
- plural of obsequy.
- plural of obsequie.
References
- The Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus. American Edition. Oxford University Press, 1997
- Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. Random House, 1996.
Anagrams
Portuguese
Verb
obsequies
- second-person singular present subjunctive of obsequiar
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /obˈsekjes/
- Rhymes: -ekjes
- Syllabification: ob‧se‧quies
Verb
obsequies
- second-person singular present subjunctive of obsequiar