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ss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." Shak. Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone.

vants, one debased to the lowest condition of servitude. -- Your humble servant, or Your obedient servant, phrases of civility often used in closing a letter. Our betters tell us they are our humble servants, but understand us to be their slaves. Swift.

Obedient; submissive. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities. Titus iii. 1.

Inclined or ready to submit; acknowledging one's inferiority; yielding; obedient; humble. Not at his feet submissive in distress, Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking. Milton.

To make compliant, submissive, or obedient. A mother persisting till she had bent her daughter's mind and suppled her will. Locke. They should supple our stiff willfulness. Barrow.

Disobedient. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. -- Un*bux"om*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Un*bux"om*ness, n. [Obs.]

Not godly; not having regard for God; disobedient to God; wicked; impious; sinful.

; -- now chiefly used in scriptural language. So shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. Deut. viii. 20.

ll; acting from choice; willing, or having power to will. "What I do, I do volitient, not obedient." Mrs. Browning.

Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse; willful. My wife is in a wayward mood. Shak. Wayward beauty doth not fancy move. Fairfax. Wilt thou forgive the wayward thought Keble. -- Way"ward*ly, adv. -- Way"ward*ness, n.