oblige

Intermediatezipf 3.10

Pronunciation

/əˈblaɪdʒ/(uh-BLIJE)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

① 迫使；使有义务 ② 帮忙；施以恩惠

Definition

(1) To require or compel someone to do something by duty/law. (2) To do a favor for someone.

Word family

  • obligation/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/(n)义务
  • obliged/əˈblaɪdʒd/(adj)被迫的/感激的
  • obligatory/əˈblɪɡətri/(adj)强制的

Collocations

  • feel obliged
  • obliged to attend
  • much obliged
  • happy to oblige

Examples

  1. 1.I felt obliged to attend the funeral out of respect. (duty)
  2. 2.Could you hold the door? — Happy to oblige! (do a favor)

Synonyms

  • compel/kəmˈpɛl/— force, stronger
  • require/rɪˈkwaɪə/— demand, formal
  • accommodate/əˈkɒmədeɪt/— help out, sense 2

Etymology

from Latin "obligare" = to bind — to bind by duty