• Oblige

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /əˈblaɪdÊ’/
    • Rhymes: -aɪdÊ’

    Origin

    Old French obliger < Latin obligo, from ob- + ligo.

    Full definition of oblige

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.I am obliged to report to the police station every week.
    2. (transitive) To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.
      • 1719, John Harris, Astronomical dialogues between a gentleman and a lady, In the mean time I have another trouble to give you, if you will oblige me in it; and that is to get me a sight of the famous Orrery, which I have heard you and others so often speak of; and which I think was made by Mr. Rowley, the famous Mathematical Instrument-Maker.
    3. (intransitive) To be indebted to someone.I am obliged to you for your recent help.
    4. (intransitive) To do a service or favour.The singer obliged with another song.

    Derived terms

    Usage notes

    "Obliged" has largely replaced "obligate"; the latter being more common in the the 17th through 19th centuries.

    The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage (1996)

    Anagrams

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