- obligation
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/ob'li gay"sheuhn/, n.1. something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.2. something that is done or is to be done for such reasons: to fulfill one's obligations.3. a binding promise, contract, sense of duty, etc.4. the act of binding or obliging oneself by a promise, contract, etc.5. Law.a. an agreement enforceable by law, originally applied to promises under seal.b. a document containing such an agreement.c. a bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money, performance of covenants, etc.6. any bond, note, bill, certificate, or the like, as of a government or a corporation, serving as evidence of indebtedness.7. an indebtedness or amount of indebtedness.8. a favor, service, or benefit for which gratitude is due.9. a debt of gratitude: He felt an obligation to his teacher.10. the state of being under a debt, as of gratitude, for a favor, service, or benefit.[1250-1300; ME obligacioun < OF obligation < L obligation- (s. of obligatio) a binding, equiv. to obligat(us) bound (see OBLIGATE) + -ion- -ION]
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Universalium. 2010.