[noh-bles oh-bleezh; Fr. naw-bles aw-bleezh] 
| the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc. |
| noblesse o·blige (ō-blēzh') n. Benevolent, honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high birth or rank. [French, nobility is an obligation : noblesse, nobility + oblige, third person sing. present tense of obliger, to obligate.] |
The belief that the wealthy and privileged are obliged to help those less fortunate. From French, meaning “nobility obligates.”