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oblige

 - 3 dictionary results

o⋅blige

  [uh-blahyj] verb, o⋅bliged, o⋅blig⋅ing.
Use oblige in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity.
2. to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract.
3. to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service: I'm much obliged for the ride.
4. to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation: Mr. Weems will oblige us with a song.
5. to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory: Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.
–verb (used without object)
6. to be kindly accommodating: I'll do anything within reason to oblige.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME obligen < OF obligier < L obligāre to bind. See obligate

Related forms:
o⋅blig⋅ed⋅ly  [uh-blahy-jid-lee] , adverb
o⋅blig⋅ed⋅ness, noun
o⋅blig⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. compel, force. 2. obligate. 4. Oblige, accommodate imply making a gracious and welcome gesture of some kind. Oblige emphasizes the idea of conferring a favor or benefit (and often of taking some trouble to do it): to oblige someone with a loan. Accommodate emphasizes doing a service or furnishing a convenience: to accommodate someone with lodgings and meals.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To oblige
o·blige   (ə-blīj')   
v.   o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es

v.   tr.

  1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means.

  2. To make indebted or grateful: I am obliged to you for your gracious hospitality.

  3. To do a service or favor for: They obliged us by arriving early.

v.   intr.
To do a service or favor: The soloist obliged with yet another encore.

[Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, from Latin obligāre : ob-, to; see ob- + ligāre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots.]
o·blig'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to perform a service or a courteous act for: obliged me by keeping the matter quiet; accommodating her by lending her money; favor an audience with an encore. See Also Synonyms at force.
Antonym: disoblige
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

oblige 
1297, "to bind by oath," from O.Fr. obligier, from L. obligare, from ob "to" + ligare "to bind," from PIE base *leig- "to bind" (see ligament). Main modern meaning "to make (someone) indebted by conferring a benefit or kindness" is from 1567; be obliged "be bound by ties of gratitude" is from 1548. Obliging "willing to do service or favors" is attested from 1632.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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