[syn: oblige, accommodate]
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.
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2. To constrain by physical, moral, or legal force; to put
under obligation to do or forbear something.
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The obliging power of the law is neither founded in,
nor to be measured by, the rewards and punishments
annexed to it. --South.
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Religion obliges men to the practice of those
virtues which conduce to the preservation of our
health. --Tillotson.
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3. To bind by some favor rendered; to place under a debt;
hence, to do a favor to; to please; to gratify; to
accommodate.
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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.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
oblige
v 1: force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to
fill out this form" [syn: compel, oblige, obligate]
2: bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He's held by a
contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise" [syn: oblige,
bind, hold, obligate]
3: provide a service or favor for someone; "We had to oblige
him" [syn: oblige, accommodate] [ant: disoblige]