the act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.-words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness.-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.-a cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior.-one of the three monastic vows.-the written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject.