oblige

See also obligé

English

Etymology

From Old (and modern) French obliger, from Latin obligare, from ob- + ligare ‘bind’.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈblaɪʤ/
• Rhymes: -aɪdʒ

Verb

oblige (third-person singular simple present obliges, present participle obliging, simple past and past participle obliged)

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.

   The hypothesis has not been proven to our satisfaction.

   • 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure Part 3

     Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.

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.

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

• disoblige

Related terms

• much obliged
• noblesse oblige
• obligate
• obligation
• obligatory
• obligee
• obligor

Translations

To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means

French: imposer (fr), obliger (fr) Hungarian: kötelez (hu)

Russian: обязывать (ru)

To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)

Russian: делать одолжение

To be indebted to someone

Hungarian: lekötelez (hu)

Russian: быть обязанным

To do a service or favour

Dutch: een plezier doen (nl)

Anagrams

• big ole

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɔbliʒ/

Verb

oblige

1. First-person singular indicative present form of obliger.
2. Third-person singular indicative present form of obliger.
3. First-person singular subjunctive present form of obliger.
4. Third-person singular subjunctive present form of obliger.
5. Second-person singular imperative present form of obliger.