oblige

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled obleegd and obleeged

US /əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #13502

Meanings

1

verb
To force or require someone to do something, by law, rules, or circumstances.

The contract obliges him to repay the loan within a year.
2

verb
To do someone a favour or help them out.

She kindly obliged us by giving us a lift home.
3

verb
To be grateful or indebted to someone for their help.

I am much obliged to you for your support.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to force or require someone... obligate hold

2 verb · to do someone a favour or... accommodate

Word family

Forms obligdobligedobligesobliging

Derived forms disobligemisobligeobligableobligementreoblige

Related forms obligate obligation obligatory obligee obligor

Simplified etymology

Oblige entered English in the Middle English period and ultimately derives from Latin ligare “bind.” It originally meant “bind by oath.”

Etymology

From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.

*leyǵ- Proto-Indo-European obligen Middle English obligier Old French obligo Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# oblige

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 13502

## Meanings
1. To force or require someone to do something, by law, rules, or circumstances.
2. To do someone a favour or help them out.
3. To be grateful or indebted to someone for their help.

## Examples
- The contract obliges him to repay the loan within a year.
- She kindly obliged us by giving us a lift home.
- I am much obliged to you for your support.

## Derived Forms
- disoblige
- misoblige
- obligable
- obligement
- reoblige

## Related Forms
- obligate
- obligation
- obligatory
- obligee
- obligor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *leyǵ-
- Root: obligen
- Root: obligier
- Root: obligo

## Etymology
From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.

## AI Etymology
Oblige is from Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin. Important historical forms include Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-, Middle English obligen, Old French obligier, and Latin obligo. In present-day use, it can mean to force or require someone to do something, by law, rules, or circumstances, or to do someone a favour or help them out. Derived formations include disoblige, misoblige, obligable, obligement, reoblige.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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