oblige

Oblige is an English verb with several related senses focused on duty and assistance. It commonly means to compel or require someone to do something, as when a contract or rule obliges the parties to act. It can also mean to bind someone morally or legally to a course of action. In a more courtesy-based sense, oblige can mean to do a favor for someone, as in the old-fashioned but still understood phrase “Would you oblige me by…?”

Etymology and forms: Oblige derives from Old French obliger, from Latin obligare, meaning “to bind.” The core meanings center on binding or enforcing a duty. The past participle is obliged, and the present participle is obliging. The adjective form obliging describes a helpful disposition, while obliged can function as a polite acknowledgment of duty or gratitude, as in “I am much obliged to you.”

Usage notes: In formal or legal contexts, be obliged to do something expresses a duty or requirement: “The terms oblige the company to disclose information.” In everyday speech, “I would be obliged if you could…” is a courteous request. The phrase “to oblige someone” can also mean to accommodate or do a favor for them, though this sense is more common in older or more formal language. The term is closely related to “obligation,” a duty or commitment, and to “obligate,” which is often used in technical or legal, and sometimes scientific, contexts.

Legal terminology: In contract law, an obligor is the party who has the duty to perform, and an obligee is the party to whom the obligation is owed.