Submissive, a.
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.
2. Showing a readiness to submit; expressing submission; as, a submissive demeanor. With a submissive step I hasted down. Prior.
Syn. -- Obedient; compliant; yielding; obsequious; subservient; humble; modest; passive. -- Sub*mis"sive*ly, adv. -- Sub*mis"sive*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for submissive; he lists it under docile.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.