oblige, obligate

oblige, obligate
In the sense of binding, constraining, and compelling, these words are synonymous: "The terms of my mortgage oblige me to make monthly payments." "I obligated myself to make the purchase." Oblige has the added meanings of "to make grateful or indebted," "to gratify the wishes of," "to do a service or render a favor": "We are obliged for your hospitality." "The charter plane obliged us by arriving early." Oblige and obligate are not interchangeable in the sense of gratitude or service, although a person who has been obliged ("rendered a favor") may feel obligated to return that favor."Much obliged," a colloquial expression, is a kind of thanks; it acknowledges a favor or kindness but stops short of a direct "Thank you."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • obligate — ob|li|gat|e [ˈɔblıgeıt US ˈa:b ] v [T usually passive] especially AmE [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of obligare; OBLIGE] 1.) to make someone have to do something, because it is the law, their duty, or the right thing to do …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • obligate — See oblige, obligate …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • oblige — verb /əˈblaɪʤ/ a) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means. I am obliged to report to the police station every week. b) To do someone a service or favour ( …   Wiktionary

  • oblige — See oblige, obligate …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • obligate — ob‧li‧gate [ˈɒblgeɪt ǁ ˈɑːb ] verb [transitive] especially AmE 1. to make it necessary for someone to do something: • A new law will obligate all companies engaging in banking business to get approval from the finance ministry. 2. FINANCE if an… …   Financial and business terms

  • oblige — index accommodate, aid, assist, bear (support), bestow, bind (obligate), call ( …   Law dictionary

  • obligate — (v.) 1540s, to bind, connect; 1660s, to put under moral obligation, from L. obligatus, pp. of obligare (see OBLIGE (Cf. oblige)). Oblige, with which it has been confused since late 17c., means to do one a favor. Related: Obligated; obligating …   Etymology dictionary

  • Obligate — Ob li*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obligated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obligating}.] [L. obligatus, p. p. of obligare. See {Oblige}.] 1. To bring or place under obligation, moral or legal; to hold by a constraining motive. Obligated by a sense of duty.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • obligate — [äb′li gāt΄; ] for adj. [, äb′ləgit, äb′ləgāt΄] vt. obligated, obligating [< L obligatus, pp. of obligare: see OBLIGE] to bind by a contract, promise, sense of duty, etc.; put under obligation adj. [ME < L obligatus] 1. bound; obliged 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • oblige — [v1] require bind, coerce, command, compel, constrain, force, impel, make, necessitate, obligate, shotgun*; concepts 14,242,646 Ant. let off oblige [v2] do a favor or kindness accommodate, aid, assist, avail, bend over backward*, benefit, come… …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”