▪ I. oblige, v.
(əˈblaɪdʒ)
Forms: α. 3 obligi, 4 -lege, 4–5 -liche, 5 -lyge, 6 -leege, 7 -lidge, -liege, (-ligue), 8 -liedge, -leadg; 3– oblige. β. 3–5 (–7 Sc.) oblisch, 4–5 -lissh, -lyssh, 4 (6–7 Sc.) -lish, 5 -lesche, (obblish), 7 Sc. obliesh, -leish. γ. Sc. 4–5 oblise, 4–6 -lis, -lys, 5–6 -lyss, 5–7 -liss, 6 -leiss, -leas, -lesse, -las, 6–7 -leis.
[a. OF. obliger, -ier (1267 in Hatz.-Darm.) to bind by oath or promise, pledge, render liable (also refl.), ad. L. obligāre to bind or tie around, bind up, bind by an oath, promise, or moral or legal tie, render liable, pledge, mortgage, impede, restrain, f. ob- towards + ligāre to tie, bind. Formerly pronounced (əˈbliːdʒ) after Fr.]
I. 1. trans. To bind (a person) by an oath, promise, contract, or any moral or legal tie (to a person or a course, or to do a thing); to put under an obligation or engagement, to engage. Now only in Law.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7995 Þo adde william vr king..to him vaste iobliged [v.r. oblisched] þe king of scotlond. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 41 See þei þat þei oblesche no man to þer maner of pouert. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 2 All menne were perdoned..whiche would..by othe be obliged truly to serve and obeye hym. a 1657 R. Loveday Lett. (1663) 275, I inclos'd the Note..in a Letter to my Brother, and oblig'd him to be very careful in sending it. 1690 Locke Govt. ii. vi. §73 It has been commonly suppos'd, That a Father could oblige his Posterity to that Government, of which he himself was a Subject. 1759 Johnson Rasselas viii, My father had obliged me to the improvement of my stock, not by a promise..but by a penalty which I was at liberty to incur. 1880 Muirhead Gaius iii. §104 Slaves..cannot be obliged to any..person. Ibid. §137 In nomina, while one, by making an entry to the other's debit, lays him under an obligation, it is only the latter that is obliged. |
2. a. refl. To bind oneself by an oath, promise, or contract (to a person, to a course or to do something, † that something shall be done); to come under an obligation, to pledge, engage oneself.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2161 Hii hom wolde obligi & sikernesse vinde gode To bere hom clene hor truage. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiii. (George) 503 Þane sais þe wich: ‘gyf I ne ma Ourcum his craft..I oblise me..But ransoninge to thole dede’. 1405 Rolls of Parlt. III. 605/2 We..oblyssyng us, by thys presentes,..to fulfill all maner accordez. a 1575 Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Club) 308 We obleiss ws, and promeiss that..the said abstinence of weir..sall continew. 1609 W. M. Man in Moone (1849) 37 Having plighted your faith and solemnly obliged yourselfe unto an husband. 1664 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 154 The time for which he had obliged himself being expired. 1721 in T. W. Marsh Early Friends iii. (1886) 29 We Desire John Croker to take his place and..we doe obleadg our selves to give him 40 shili. 1890 Pall Mall G. 9 Sept. 7/3 In gratitude for the bequest of Preston, the town council obliged themselves to his son to build that aisle to his memory. |
† b. intr. (for refl.) Sc. Obs.
| 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. ii. xxvi, I obleis be my hand, He sall obserue in all pointis ȝour behest. 1567 in Row Hist. Kirk (1842) 34 That these præsent oblishes to reforme themselves. 1634 Ibid. 374 We..undersubscryve, and oblishes and promises to obey the wholl contents of the said letter. |
† 3. trans. a. To make (lands, property, a possession) a guarantee or security for the discharge of a promise or debt; to pledge, pawn, or mortgage. Also fig., to pledge (one's life, honour, etc.). Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6771 Þe emperour of rome to him..Obligede [v.r. obleged] bi his messagers alle þing þat was his. 1388 Wyclif Prov. xxii. 26 Nyle thou be with hem that oblischen [1382 ficche doun] her hondis, and that proferen hem silf borewis for dettis. 1395 Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 81 King Jon oblisshide his rewme of Ingelond and his lordshipe of Irelond in a thousand mark, to be paied yeer bi yeer. 1474 Caxton Chesse 131 Yf thou wylt oblyge thy sowle to me ayenst my hors I wyl playe wyth the. 1675 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 449 The gentlemen..were ordered to oblige each their honour, not to take any resentment. 1700 Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 928 [He] forbid all the Prelates..to oblige their Lay-Fees to the See of Rome. 1750 Beawes Lex Mercat. (1752) 113 The ship is tacitly obliged for their wages. |
† b. To agree to as obligatory. Obs. rare.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. iii. 83 The haly promys and the bandis gent Of pece and concord oblisit and sworn. |
4. a. Of an oath, promise, law, command, etc.: To bind (a person); to make (one) morally or legally bound to some action or conduct, or to do something; also, to a person (obs. exc. in Law).
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 70 Siþin gode deedis, in Goddis myraclis, oblischen men moore to serve God. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 28 b, The statutes and ordinaunces..dothe not oblige and bynde them to that case, but in certayne poyntes. 1589 R. Bruce Serm. (1843) 28 The command oblishes you to obey. 1649 W. Ball Power of Kings 8 As the Kings Oath tieth and obligeth Him to the People, certainly the Peoples Oath tieth and obligeth them to the King. 1741 Watts Improv. Mind i. i. (1801) 15 Christianity so much the more obliges us..to invoke the assistance of the true God. 1865 W. G. Palgrave Arabia I. 449 The names of those whom vicinity obliges to attendance are read over morning and evening. |
b. With simple obj.: To bind, to be binding on (a person, conscience). Also absol.
| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 101 Four þingis are requirid to ilk vowe þat oblischiþ. 1643 Prynne Sov. Power Parlt. i. (ed. 2) 47 Yet these Lawes would no wayes obliege them, unlesse they voluntarily consented and submitted to them in Parliament. 1673 Marvell Reh. Transp. II. 241 You say they are no Laws unless they oblige the Conscience. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. vii. 153 Two inconsistent laws cannot both oblige. |
c. pass. to be obliged: to be bound by a legal or moral tie.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxviii. (Adrian) 165 He wes obliste til his wyfe To speke with her in-to his lyfe. 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce ix, I promysed to the nought at al, in the presence of whom I am oblyged or bound. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 43 We ar oblissit to lufe God. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 5 b (Stat. Will. c. 19), The wyfe is nocht oblisched to accuse hir husband. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. iii. i. (1673) 268 That Duty and Respect, wherein we stand obliged to others. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xxi. 244 Martyr excused his coming, partly because he was obliged to the city and church of Zurick. 1810 Horsley Serm. (1811) 439 Thus it should seem that Christians are clearly obliged to the observance of a Sabbath. |
II. 5. † a. trans. To make (any one) subject or liable to a bond, penalty, or the like. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 113 Þe zenuolle be one zenne dyadlich..is y-obliged to zuo ane greate gauelinge. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶773 This cursed synne anoyeth greuousliche hem that it haunten And first to hire soule, for he obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 105 Quhen Adam sinnit he oblist hime self and al his offspring to the eternal deid. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref. §14 It is to be inquired how these became laws; obliging us to sin, if we transgress. |
b. refl. To render oneself liable to punishment, to involve oneself in guilt. (Lat. sē obligāre.) Now only in Civil Law.
| 1382 Wyclif Prov. xiii. 13 Who bacbiteth to any thing, he oblisheth hymself in to the time to come. 1880 Muirhead Gaius iii. §208 Most agree that, as theft depends upon intent, such a child can only oblige himself in respect of it when he is close upon puberty. |
III. 6. a. trans. To bind or make indebted († to oneself) by conferring a benefit or kindness; to gratify with or by doing something; to do a service to, confer a favour on; † to be of service to, to benefit (obs.).
| 1567 Tuberv. Ovid's Ep. 71 And oblige mee unto thee by this boone. a 1610 Healey Theophrastus (1636) 83 If any man be oblig'd, he will command him to remember the favour. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 2 Here take oh Zani this ring of gold, and by giuing it to the sea, oblige it vnto thee. 1626 T. H[awkins] Caussin's Holy Crt. 38 Pliny..pronounceth..That the greatest diuinity is to see a mortall man oblige his like. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. ii. 60 That her Family had oblig'd Hungary with a Queen, and France with a Gaston de Foix. 1775 Sheridan Rivals v. iii, O pray, Faulkland, fight to oblige Sir Lucius. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge xv, Oblige me with the milk. 1885 Sir W. V. Field in Law Rep. 15 Queen's Bench Div. 413 The customer requested the appellant, to oblige her, to send the loaves home with other goods she had purchased. |
b. Said of the service, kindness, etc.
| 1638 Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II.) 85 If this tendernesse proceeded from a soft effeminate spirit, yet it would..oblige me infinitely unto you. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T., Rom. xvi. 3–4 The..helping an eminent Minister, may oblige many Churches. 1769 Sir J. Sinclair Corr. (1831) II. 439 Your early attention to this application, will much oblige, Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant. |
c. absol. To confer a favour; esp. to favour a company (with some performance). colloq.
| 1735 Pope Prol. Sat. 208 So obliging, that he ne'er oblig'd [rime besieg'd]. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. vi, Sir, would you obleege with the snuffers. 1888 Pall Mall G. 16 Nov. 7/1 To-night, Mr. Grossmith..and all the talents will oblige. 1897 tr. Balzac's Cousin Pons 12 He ‘obliged’ at the pianoforte. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 15 Apr. 2/1 A chairman was elected, obliged with a song, and then called upon a member of the company. When gents were shy, or dry, or both, professional talent obliged. |
d. intr. and trans. To act as a charwoman (for); to provide with domestic help. euphem.
| 1933 D. C. Peel Life's Enchanted Cup xix. 259 The mother took in washing and went out to ‘oblige’ and earned roughly 22s. a week and some of her food. 1937 E. Garnett Family from One End St. i. 13 She occasionally did odd work to ‘oblige’ Mrs. Theobald, the Vicar's wife. 1958 J. Cannan And be a Villain iii. 51 I'm not in service. I oblige by the hour. 1963 A. Lubbock Austral. Roundabout 165 Twice a week a lady came to ‘oblige’ in the house. 1972 ‘A. Armstrong’ One Jump Ahead i. 8 A bachelor who..paid well and wasn't too fussy..was a far better proposition than some others she had ‘obliged’. |
7. pass. To be bound to a person by ties of gratitude; to owe or feel gratitude; to be indebted to a person (or thing) for something. Now said only in reference to small services, esp. in making an acknowledgement or request; also, formally, where there is no real indebtedness, as in ordering goods from a tradesman, etc.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 39 Yf yt chaunce me by your ayde..to recover..I..shalbe so muche obliged and bounde unto you. 1619 Wotton Let. in Eng. & Germ. (Camden) 49 For the foresaid resolution in youre Ma{supt}{supi}⊇ ymplying..the good of so manie of your freindes, they held themselves eternally obliged. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. viii. 295 To those Hills we are obliged for all our Metals. 1726 G. Roberts Four Years Voy. 53, I told them, I was very much obliged to them for their Good-will. 1791 Gentl. Mag. 32/2 The republick of letters is infinitely obliged to M. Coste for the pains he has taken. 1836 Macaulay in Trevelyan Life I. vi. 453 There is an oversight in the article on Bacon, which I shall be much obliged to you to correct. |
† 8. trans. In looser sense: To gratify, please, attract, charm. Obs.
| 1635–56 [see obliging ppl. a. 2 b]. 1673 S. C. Art of Complaisance 8 Without which it is impossible to oblige in conversation. 1679 G. R. tr. Boyatuau's Theat. World Ded. 2 Perceiving many things in it which did oblige my fancy. 1709 Swift Tritical Ess., It was reasonable to suppose, you would be very much obliged with any thing, that was new. |
IV. 9. trans. To constrain, esp. by moral or legal force or influence; to force, compel. a. to do something.
| 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 91, I will obey you (my Lord) for all things oblige me so to doe. 1715 De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. iii. (1841) I. 64 From this time I resolve to oblige all my family to serve God. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 23/2 He is so weak that he has been obliged to be held up by people when he came out of the house. 1808 Pike Sources Mississ. iii. 215, I will give you a certificate from under my hand of my having obliged you to march. 1896 T. F. Tout Edw. I, iv. 83 The royal officials committed so many misdeeds that the king on his return was obliged to make a stern example. |
b. to a course of action, etc.
| 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 66 See here the reasons which obliged this illustrious Prince to his resolution, and the true Motives of so glorious an action. 1722 De Foe Plague 153 Self-preservation obliged the people to these severities. 1875 Howells Foregone Concl. 129 It is flattering to a man to be indispensable to a woman so long as he is not obliged to it. |
† c. To restrain from action, etc. Obs.
| c 1661 Marq. Argyle's Last Will in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 29/1 [Argyle] being..to oblige from the Rebellion then on Foot, created a Marquis. 1709 J. Johnson Clergym. Vade M. ii. p. lxxi, To oblige the delinquent from the exercise of his function. |
10. To render imperative; to necessitate.
| 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 82 In some sort to oblige their dependance upon his acts and fortunes. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 60 Policy..obliged from the dear Gentleman this Frankness and Acknowlegement. 1866 Cornh. Mag. Dec. 734 The custom of the Elizabethan theatre obliged this double authorship. |
V. † 11. trans. To fasten or attach closely; to bind, tie up. Obs.
| 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. viii. (1701) 333/1 Touching is a Spirit extended from the Hegemonick part to the Superficies, so that it perceiveth that which is obliged to it. 1718 Motteux Quix. ii. xvi. (1865) 293 As soon as Maritornes had fastened him, she..left him so strongly obliged, that it was impossible he should disengage himself. |
† 12. To fetter, ensnare. Obs.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xix. 9 Þai ere obligid and þai fell. 1382 Wyclif Ps. xix. 9 Thei ben oblisht, and fellen. |
▪ II. † oˈblige, n. Obs. rare—1.
In 7 obliege.
[f. prec. vb.]
Obligation.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xvii. §31. 858 Whether he did it in policy..or else of duety of obliege..is vncertaine. |
▪ III. oblige
obs. form of obligee.