obsequious
overly eager to please
Roots
- -ous / -ious: full of or marked by a quality
- ob-: against, toward, or in the way
- sequ / secut: follow
Other words with the ob- root
Other words with the sequ / secut root
- consequence: result that follows
- consequent: following as a result
- consequential: important or following as a result
- inconsequential: unimportant; not leading to meaningful results
- sequel: work or event that follows
- sequence: ordered series
- sequential: arranged in order
Ob- can mean after or toward, and sequ means follow. Obsequious behavior follows power too closely.
His obsequious praise made the manager suspicious rather than pleased.
Obsequious is not ordinary politeness. Politeness has dignity. Obsequiousness crouches too close to power and keeps nodding.
Use the follow-image: the person follows every mood, flatters every sentence, and gives up their own spine to stay approved.