obey

Where does the word "obey" come from? It comes from Latin oboedire, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Obey’s story begins in Latin: oboedire meant “to give ear to, to obey.” To give ear to, to obey, from ob- (toward) and audire (to hear). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as obeir. Carried into French for complying with a command. It reached English by 1200s as obey. Settled as the English word for complying with an order or instruction. Today, obey means to comply with an order, request, or instruction.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient oboedire "to give ear to, to obey", to give ear to, to obey, from ob- (toward) and audire (to hear).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval obeir "to comply with a command", carried into French for complying with a command.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s obey "to comply with an order or instruction", settled as the English word for complying with an order or instruction.