OBLIGE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Oblige

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/əblˈaɪdʒ/ Listen

verb

Oblige v. t. (past & past part. obliged; pres. part. obliging)

To attach, as by a bond. (Obs.) "He had obliged all the senators and magistrates firmly to himself."

To constrain by physical, moral, or legal force; to put under obligation to do or forbear something. "The obliging power of the law is neither founded in, nor to be measured by, the rewards and punishments annexed to it." "Religion obliges men to the practice of those virtues which conduce to the preservation of our health."

To bind by some favor rendered; to place under a debt; hence, to do a favor to; to please; to gratify; to accommodate. "Thus man, by his own strength, to heaven would soar, And would not be obliged to God for more." "The gates before it are brass, and the whole much obliged to Pope Urban VIII." "I shall be more obliged to you than I can express."

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Etymology of 'Oblige'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Oblige" Quotes from Famous Books

... whose natural singleness of heart and sincerity are such that they could not have two lovers at the same time. You believed your mistress such an one; that is best, I admit. You have discovered that she has deceived you; does that oblige you to depose and to abuse her, to believe her deserving ...

— Child of a Century, Complete • Alfred de Musset

... years, perhaps. But what does that matter? I shall work a good deal at the British Museum. It will oblige me to be away from you a ...

— The Emancipated • George Gissing

... (postmark July 7, 1814). "MY DEAR SIR,—You will greatly oblige me by giving the enclosed to Mr. Shelley. I would not trouble you, but it is now four days since I have heard from him, which to me is an age. Will you write by return of post and tell me what has become of him? as I always fancy something dreadful has happened ...

— Innocents abroad • Mark Twain

... welcomed the gentleman, elegantly designated as 'Dismal Jemmy'; and calling for brandy-and-water, in imitation of the remainder of the company, seated themselves at the table. 'Now sir,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'will you oblige us by proceeding with what you were ...

— The Pickwick Papers • Charles Dickens

... powers granted by Royal Charter were very strong. The Company was empowered to prohibit anyone from working at that trade within the jurisdiction of the City who was not a member of the Company; it could prevent markets from being held within a certain distance of the City; it could oblige all the youth of the City to be apprenticed to some Company; it could regulate wages and hours of work; it could examine the work before it could be sold; and it could limit the number of the workmen. The Company, in fact, ruled its own trade with an authority ...

— As We Are and As We May Be • Sir Walter Besant

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