1.
[syn: duty-bound(p), obliged(p)]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Oblige \O*blige"\ ([-o]*bl[imac]j"; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Obliged ([-o]*bl[imac]jd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Obliging
([-o]*bl[imac]"j[i^]ng).] [OF. obligier, F. obliger, L.
obligare; ob (see Ob-) + ligare to bind. See Ligament,
and cf. Obligate.]
1. To attach, as by a bond. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
He had obliged all the senators and magistrates
firmly to himself. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
2. To constrain by physical, moral, or legal force; to put
under obligation to do or forbear something.
[1913 Webster]
The obliging power of the law is neither founded in,
nor to be measured by, the rewards and punishments
annexed to it. --South.
[1913 Webster]
Religion obliges men to the practice of those
virtues which conduce to the preservation of our
health. --Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]
3. To bind by some favor rendered; to place under a debt;
hence, to do a favor to; to please; to gratify; to
accommodate.
[1913 Webster]
Thus man, by his own strength, to heaven would soar,
And would not be obliged to God for more. --Dryden.
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The gates before it are brass, and the whole much
obliged to Pope Urban VIII. --Evelyn.
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I shall be more obliged to you than I can express.
--Mrs. E.
Montagu.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
obliged
adj 1: under a moral obligation to do something [syn: duty-
bound(p), obliged(p)]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
29 Moby Thesaurus words for "obliged":
acknowledging, appreciative, beholden, beholden to, bound, bounden,
bounden to, cognizant of, committed, compelled, crediting,
duty-bound, forced, grateful, in duty bound, indebted, indebted to,
made, much obliged, obligate, obligated, obliged to, pledged,
required, saddled, sensible, thankful, tied, under obligation