oblige

Meaning

1. (transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.
2. (intransitive, transitive) To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).
3. (intransitive) To be indebted to someone.

Synonyms

compel

force

obligate

coerce

constrain

bind

make

impose

require

please

enforce

accommodate

press

gratify

impel

necessitate

drive

help

humor

relieve

mandate

support

thrust

assert

hold

inflict

make glad

motivate

obliged

play up

pledge

prescribe

press on

pressurise

presume

presuppose

put on

round up

run down

satisfy

serve

service

stipulate

subserve

suit

supply

take

tax

tie

be grateful

Translations

obliger

obligar

obbligare

zwingen

obrigar

forzar

obligar

imposer

υποχρεώνω

costringere

verplichten

forcer

dwingen

verpflichten

forzare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: obligen

In summary

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