The Collaborative International Dictionary
Obligation \Ob"li*ga"tion\, n. [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]
The act of obligating.
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That which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that which constitutes legal or moral duty.
A tender conscience is a stronger obligation than a proson.
--Fuller. -
Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for another, or to forbear something; external duties imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc.
Every man has obligations which belong to his station. Duties extend beyond obligation, and direct the affections, desires, and intentions, as well as the actions.
--Whewell. The state of being obligated or bound; the state of being indebted for an act of favor or kindness; -- often used with under to indicate being in that state; as, to place others under obligations to one.
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(Law) A bond with a condition annexed, and a penalty for nonfulfillment. In a larger sense, it is an acknowledgment of a duty to pay a certain sum or do a certain things.
Days of obligation. See under Day.
under obligation, under an obligation. in a state of obligation[4].
Usage examples of "under an obligation".
A multitude of authorities proves that the magistrates were under an obligation to publish these edicts.
And thus every man, by consenting with others to make one body politic under one government, puts himself under an obligation to every one of that society to submit to the determination of the majority, and to be concluded by it.
It is useless me to say that those who maintain the doctrine that men ha a right to command and women are under an obligation obey, or that men are fit for government and women unfit, on the affirmative side of the question, and that they are bound to show positive evidence for the assertions, or submit to their rejection.
In return for this security I owe it, for my quota, the means for keeping this weapon in good condition: he who enjoys a service is under an obligation to pay for it.
Your submitting, on my account, to such cruel insults from my father, lays me under an obligation I shall ever own.
The crusaders considered themselves under an obligation to fulfil this prophecy.
And with the whole village knowing that he is under an obligation, it should be no great difficulty to see that he stays honest& for a year and a day at least.
Besides, even if he did tear up my vowels I should still think myself under an obligation to redeem them!