English Explanatory Dictionary

oblige

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.
  2. To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).
  3. To cause somebody to feel indebted.

Pronunciation

/əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-oblige.wav /əˈbliːd͡ʒ/ /ɒˈbliːd͡ʒ/

Word forms

oblige obliges obliging obliged

Etymology

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

Related words

liable much obliged noblesse oblige obligate obligation obligatory obligee obligor rely

Derived words

disoblige misoblige obligable obligement reoblige
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