Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Oblige
O-blige′
(ō̍-blīj′; 277)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Obliged
(ō̍-blījd′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Obliging
(ō̍-blī′jĭng)
.] 1.
To attach, as by a bond.
[Obs.]
He had
obliged
all the senators and magistrates firmly to himself. Bacon.
2.
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. South.
Religion
obliges
men to the practice of those virtues which conduce to the preservation of our health. Tillotson.
3.
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
And would not be
obliged
to God for more. Dryden.
The gates before it are brass, and the whole much
obliged
to Pope Urban VIII. Evelyn.
I shall be more
obliged
to you than I can express. Mrs. E. Montagu.
Webster 1828 Edition
Oblige
OBLI'GE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To constrain by necessity; to compel by physical force. an admiral may be obliged to surrender his ships, or he may be obliged by adverse winds to delay sailing.2.
To constrain by legal force; to bind in law. We are obliged to pay toll for supporting roads and bridges.3.
To bind or constrain by moral force. We are obliged to believe positive and unsuspected testimony.4.
To bind in conscience or honor; to constrain by a sense of propriety. We are often obliged to conform to established customs, rites or ceremonies. To be obliged to yield to fashion is often the worst species of tyranny.5.
To do a favor to; to lay under obligation of gratitude; as, to oblige one with a loan of money.6.
To do a favor to; to please; to gratify. Oblige us with your company at dinner.7.
To indebt.To those hills we are obliged for all our metals.