to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity.
to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract.
to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service: I'm much obliged for the ride.
to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation: Mr. Weems will oblige us with a song.
to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory: Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.
verb (used without object),o·bliged,o·blig·ing.
to be kindly accommodating: I'll do anything within reason to oblige.
Origin of oblige
1250–1300;Middle Englishobligen < Old Frenchobligier < Latinobligāre to bind. See obligate
Related formso·blig·ed·ly[uh-blahy-jid-lee]/əˈblaɪ dʒɪd li/, adverbo·blig·ed·ness, nouno·blig·er, nounpre·o·blige, verb (used with object),pre·o·bliged,pre·o·blig·ing.re·o·blige, verb (used with object),re·o·bliged,re·o·blig·ing.un·o·bliged, adjectiveCan be confusedcoercecompelconstrainforceobligeobligateoblige
4. Oblige,accommodate imply making a gracious and welcome gesture of some kind. Oblige emphasizes the idea of conferring a favor or benefit (and often of taking some trouble to do it): to oblige someone with a loan.Accommodate emphasizes doing a service or furnishing a convenience: to accommodate someone with lodgings and meals.
c.1600, past participle adjective from oblige. To be obliged "be bound by ties of gratitude" is from 1540s.
oblige
v.
c.1300, "to bind by oath," from Old French obligier "engage one's faith, commit (oneself), pledge" (13c.), from Latin obligare "to bind, bind up, bandage," figuratively "put under obligation," from ob "to" (see ob-) + ligare "to bind," from PIE root *leig- "to bind" (see ligament). Main modern meaning "to make (someone) indebted by conferring a benefit or kindness" is from 1560s. Related: obliged; obliging.
