Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 4 AIL 0323 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Lexicon: Obsequious
Captions available
The idea
Obsequious means excessively deferential, fawning, servile. The excess is essential. Ordinary politeness is not obsequious, so the option requires deference beyond what the situation calls for, and a merely courteous speaker will not satisfy it.
In practice
Deference past the point of dignity.
Where people slip
Politeness alone is not enough.
Your place on the trail
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