DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTIC RECORDS
 
The 4,040 Rules of Art Conduct  
The Obediences -  3600-3799 
Obedience \O*be"di*ence\, n. [F. ob['e]dience, 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. 

                                          Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary