Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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 : WordNet®

obedience
     n 1: the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with
          respect to another person [syn: {obeisance}] [ant: {disobedience}]
     2: the trait of being willing to obey [ant: {disobedience}]
     3: behavior intended to please your parents; "their children
        were never very strong on obedience"; "he went to law
        school out of respect for his father's wishes" [syn: {respect}]