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disoblige

[dis-uh-blahyj]
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verb (used with object), dis·o·bliged, dis·o·blig·ing.
  1. to refuse or neglect to oblige; act contrary to the desire or convenience of; fail to accommodate.
  2. to give offense to; affront: to be disobliged by a tactless remark.
  3. to cause inconvenience to; incommode: to be disobliged by an uninvited guest.
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Origin of disoblige

1595–1605; < Middle French desobliger, equivalent to des- dis-1 + obliger to oblige
Related formsdis·o·blig·ing·ly, adverbdis·o·blig·ing·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for disoblige

Historical Examples

  • He that can oblige, may disoblige—Happy for some people not to have it in their power to offend!

    Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • D'Artagnan saw that he should disoblige him by again interfering.

  • I have nothing to say which my brother should not hear; my brother will disoblige me by withdrawing.

    The Freebooters

    Gustave Aimard

  • "I am sorry to disoblige," said George, lifting his shoulders.

    Into the Highways and Hedges

    F. F. Montrsor (Frances Frederica)

  • And then another man's weakness may disoblige me and discharge me from my duty.

    A Christian Directory

    Baxter Richard

British Dictionary definitions for disoblige

disoblige

verb (tr)
  1. to disregard the desires of
  2. to slight; insult
  3. informal to cause trouble or inconvenience to
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Derived Formsdisobliging, adjectivedisobligingly, adverbdisobligingness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disoblige

v.

c.1600, "to free from obligation;" 1630s, "to refuse to oblige," from French désobliger (c.1300), from des- (see dis-) + Latin obligare (see oblige). Related: Disobliged; disobliging.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper