verb
obligate
AH-bluh-gayt/ˈɑblʌɡˌeɪt/
To bind someone or something to a duty or purpose.
The rental agreement obligates the tenant to fulfill responsibilities to the landlord.
Etymology
The underlying image is binding people to a duty rather than physically tying them. The English verb may have been formed from obligation or directly from the Latin verb's participle.
In context
reluctant to obligate themselves to pay millions and millions of dollars of damages just for the privilege of getting a book
More examples
- Accepting the grant obligates us to submit a final report.
- The council obligated the remaining funds to road repairs.
- I feel obligated to tell her the truth.
Forms
obligate · obligates · obligated · obligating
obligation noun — A duty or commitment someone must fulfill.
obligatory adjective — Required by a rule or duty.