Definition of oblige

< obligatory

obligee >

o·blige    (-blj) KEY 

VERB:
o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es
VERB:
tr.

1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means.
2. To make indebted or grateful: I am obliged to you for your gracious hospitality.
3. To do a service or favor for: They obliged us by arriving early.

VERB:
intr.

To do a service or favor: The soloist obliged with yet another encore.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, from Latin obligre : ob-, to ; see ob- + ligre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
o·bliger(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
oblige, accommodate, favor

These verbs mean to perform a service or a courteous act for: obliged me by keeping the matter quiet; accommodating her by lending her money; favor an audience with an encore. See also Synonyms at force.
Antonym: disoblige