oblige

Etymology

From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/
  • Rhymes: -aɪdʒ

  • Audio (UK):

    (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /əˈbliːd͡ʒ/, /ɒˈbliːd͡ʒ/

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.

   • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

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

   He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.

   The singer obliged with another song.

   • 1719, John Harris, Astronomical dialogues between a gentleman and a lady, page 151:

     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.

References

Anagrams

• big ole, biogel, globie

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ.bliʒ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

oblige

1. inflection of obliger:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [oˈblid͡ʒe]

Verb

oblige

1. third-person singular/plural present subjunctive of obliga