Etymologically
Log in

obliger

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 08:43. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɔ.bli.ʒe/[1]

Forms

obliger[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin obligō (“to tie to; to bind, pledge (by contract, vow or favour)”), formed from ob- (“towards; in return for”) and ligō (“to tie, bind”) (see lier).[2][3][4][5][6]

Compare Old Occitan obligar, Spanish obligar, Portuguese obrigar and Italian obbligare.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

A Poitevin charter of 1243 has en avom obligé nos e totes les noz chouses, to pledge oneself and one's goods as security, a legal sense.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Brunetto Latini (about 1265) uses it for binding morally, and s'obliger “to commit oneself” is found about 1300.[2][3] The common sense “to compel, force” dates from about 1485, with à and, from Palsgrave (1530), de: je suis obligé de le faire.[2][3] To create a debt of gratitude is in Oresme (1370–72), and in the 16th and 17th centuries obliger was above all to do someone a favour, obligeant “helpful” is recorded by Monet (1636).[2][3] In music obligé translates Italian obbligato (1703).[2] The phrase noblesse oblige rests on the sense of moral duty.[1]

Timeline

  • 1243 – To pledge, Poitevin charters.[2]
  • c. 1265 – To bind morally, Brunetto Latini.[2]
  • 1370–72 – Bound by gratitude, Oresme.[2]
  • 1456 – Obligeance.[5]
  • c. 1485 – “To compel”.[2]
  • 1530 – Être obligé de, Palsgrave.[2]
  • 1636 – Obligeant, helpful.[2]
  • 1703 – Obligé in music.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To oblige, compel, force: obliger quelqu'un à partir, être obligé de, to have to.[1][8]
  2. To bind by law or contract: le contrat oblige les deux parties, s'obliger à, to undertake to.[8][9]
  3. To bind morally: l'honneur m'y oblige, noblesse oblige.[8][1]
  4. (formal) To do a favour, oblige: vous m'obligeriez en…, être l'obligé de quelqu'un.[3][9]

Word family

  • obligé
  • obligeant
  • obligeance
  • obligeamment
  • désobliger
  • désobligeant
  • obligation
  • obligatoire
  • obligatoirement
  • lier
  • Latin obligō
  • English oblige

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 268a
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse