2. To bind or firmly hold to an act; to compel; to constrain; to bind to any act of duty or courtesy by a
formal pledge.
That they may not incline or be obligated to any vile or lowly occupations.
Landor. Obligation
(Ob"li*ga"tion) n. [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]
1. The act of obligating.
2. That which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that
which constitutes legal or moral duty.
A tender conscience is a stronger obligation than a proson.
Fuller. 3. Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for anouther, or to forbear something; external
duties imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc.
Every man has obligations which belong to his station. Duties extend beyond obligation, and direct the
affections, desires, and intentions, as well as the actions.
Whewell. 4. The state of being obligated or bound; the state of being indebted for an act of favor or kindness; as,
to place others under obligations to one.
5. (Law) A bond with a condition annexed, and a penalty for nonfulfillment. In a larger sense, it is an
acknowledgment of a duty to pay a certain sum or do a certain things.
Days of obligation. See under Day.
Obligato
(||Ob"li*ga"to) a. [It.] See Obbligato.
Obligatorily
(Ob"li*ga*to*ri*ly) adv. In an obligatory manner; by reason of obligation. Foxe.
Obligatoriness
(Ob"li*ga*to*ri*ness), n. The quality or state of being obligatory.
Obligatory
(Ob"li*ga*to*ry) a. [L. obligatorius: cf.F. obligatoire.] Binding in law or conscience; imposing
duty or obligation; requiring performance or forbearance of some act; — often followed by on or upon; as,
obedience is obligatory on a soldier.
As long as the law is obligatory, so long our obedience is due.
Jer. Taylor. Oblige
(O*blige") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obliged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Obliging ] [OF. obligier, F. obliger, L.
obligare; ob (see Ob-) + ligare to bind. See Ligament, and cf. Obligate.]
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.
