oblige Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb force somebody to do something
obligate; compel.
- We compel all students to fill out this form
verb bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
bind; obligate; hold.
- He's held by a contract
- I'll hold you by your promise
verb provide a service or favor for someone
accommodate.
- We had to oblige him

OF. obligier, F.obliger, L. obligare; ob (see Ob-) + ligare to bind. See Ligament, and cf. Obligate.

imperfect & past participle Obliged ; present participle & verbal noun Obliging

To attach, as by a bond. Obs.
He had obliged all the senators and magistrates firmly to himself. Bacon.
To constrain by physical, moral, or legal force; to put under obligation to do or forbear something.
The obliging power of the law is neither founded in, nor to be measured by, the rewards and punishments annexed to it. South.

Religion obliges men to the practice of those virtues which conduce to the preservation of our health. Tillotson.
To bind by some favor rendered; to place under a debt; hence, to do a favor to; to please; to gratify; to accommodate.
Thus man, by his own strength, to heaven would soar, And would not be obliged to God for more. Dryden.

The gates before it are brass, and the whole much obliged to Pope Urban VIII. Evelyn.

I shall be more obliged to you than I can express. Mrs. E. Montagu.