Oblige
Pronunciation
- IPA: /əˈblaɪdʒ/
- Rhymes: -aɪdʒ
Origin
Old French obliger < Latin obligo, from ob- + ligo.
Full definition of oblige
Verb
- (transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.I am obliged to report to the police station every week.
- (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.
- (intransitive) To be indebted to someone.I am obliged to you for your recent help.
- (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)