oblige

Verb
Synonyms: compelobligatebindholdaccommodate

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

  1. force somebody to do something“We compel all students to fill out this form”Synonyms: compelobligate
  2. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted“He's held by a contract”“I'll hold you by your promise”Synonyms: bindholdobligate
  3. provide a service or favor for someone“We had to oblige him”Synonyms: accommodate
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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.[1913 Webster]
The gates before it are brass, and the whole much obliged to Pope Urban VIII.— Evelyn.[1913 Webster]
I shall be more obliged to you than I can express.— Mrs. E. Montagu.[1913 Webster]
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