In the following question, four words are given, out of which one word is spelt correctly. Select the correctly spelt word and mark your answer.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Obeisance

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question checks knowledge of the correct spelling of a formal English noun that appears in literature and ceremonial descriptions. The word refers to a gesture of respect, such as a bow or deep courtesy, especially one that shows obedience or honour. Because the pronunciation contains several vowel sounds, exam setters often test it with confusing variations of vowels and consonant clusters.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Meaning: a gesture or act of respect or homage.
  • Options: Obeisance, Obeisanse, Obesance, Obesanse.
  • We assume standard dictionary spelling.
  • The correct word is commonly found in formal writing and religious or royal contexts.


Concept / Approach:
The standard spelling of the word is obeisance. It is derived from Old French and ultimately from a Latin root connected with obedience. The key features of the spelling are the sequence o b e i s a n c e. Many incorrect variants drop the i, change the order of a and n, or replace c with s at the end. Hence the approach is to recall the fixed pattern obeis plus ance and eliminate forms that deviate from it.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the correct word used in literature: pay obeisance to the king or show obeisance before the deity.Step 2: Visualise the spelling as obeis plus ance, forming obeisance.Step 3: Compare option A, Obeisance, with this mental model and see that it matches exactly.Step 4: Examine other options. Obeisanse ends with anse instead of ance, which is incorrect. Obesance omits the letter i after e, altering the sound pattern. Obesanse removes the i and also changes c to s at the end, creating a double error.Step 5: Thus Obeisance is the only correctly spelt option.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of similar abstract nouns ending in ance: acceptance, tolerance, and allegiance. Obeisance fits this family with the same final sequence a n c e. Checking a mental sentence like Citizens showed obeisance at the ceremony also helps fix the spelling. None of the incorrect variants would look appropriate in a formal printed document where spelling conventions are strict.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Obeisanse: The final s e combination does not match standard usage; most such nouns use c e rather than s e. Obesance: Removing the i alters both the pronunciation and the link to the root obey or obedience, making this form non standard. Obesanse: This combines both previous errors and is far removed from the recognised spelling. These options are designed to mislead candidates who rely only on approximate sound rather than firm visual familiarity with the word.



Common Pitfalls:
Because obeisance is not used in everyday speech by many learners, some candidates may never have seen it written and try to guess based on similar sounding words. A frequent mistake is to confuse it with obedience or obeisant and then to project that pattern incorrectly. The best preparation strategy is to read widely, especially literary and editorial material, and to create mental flashcards for high frequency exam words like obeisance, acquiesce, and benevolent, which often appear in spelling and synonym sections.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is Obeisance.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion