Obsequies
/ˈɒb.sə.kwiːz/noun
Funeral rites or ceremonies held for a deceased person.
Did you know?Obsequies shares its Latin root with “obsequious,” because both originally involved following, attending, or dutifully complying with someone.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sekw-
“To follow or track behind”
Classical Latin
Latin
sequī
“To follow, attend, or accompany”
Classical Latin
Latin
obsequī
“To follow someone’s wishes or attend upon them; to comply”
Late Latin
Latin
obsequiae
“Attendance or funeral rites, understood as accompanying the dead”
Old French
Old French
obseques
“Funeral ceremonies”
Middle English
English
obsequies
“Funeral rites or ceremonies”
Modern English
English
obsequies
“The funeral rites or ceremonies of a deceased person”