# oblige

Pronunciation: US say "uh-BLYJ" /əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/; UK

## Verb

1. To constrain someone to a course of action by force or by social, moral, or legal means.
   - Simple: To make someone do something because of a rule, a law, or a strong duty.
   - _Federal regulations oblige airlines to compensate passengers for long delays._
   - _A sense of duty obliged her to report what she had seen._
2. To do someone a favor or perform a service for them, especially in response to a request.
   - Simple: To do something kind or helpful for someone, often because they asked you to.
   - _Whenever visitors ask for restaurant recommendations, the locals are glad to oblige them._
   - _Reporters requested a statement, and the senator's office obliged within the hour._
3. To be indebted to someone, owing them gratitude for a favor or service.
   - Simple: To owe someone thanks because they helped you or did something kind.
   - _I'm obliged to you for taking the time to explain everything._
   - _The whole town was obliged to the doctor who stayed through the epidemic._

## Origin

This word comes from Middle English "obligen," from Old French "obligier," from Latin "obligare" (from "ob-" plus "ligo"). It is a doublet of "obligate," which was taken straight from Latin.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/oblige (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).