O‐bey″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Obeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Obeying.] [OE. obeyen, F. obéir, fr. L. obedire, oboedire; ob (see Ob-) + audire to hear. See Audible, and cf. Obeisance.] 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Eph. vi. 1.
Was she the God, that her thou didst obey? Milton.
2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.
My will obeyed his will. Chaucer.
Afric and India shall his power obey. Dryden.
3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.