obliging

[uh-blahy-jing] /əˈblaɪ dʒɪŋ/
adjective
1.
willing or eager to do favors, offer one's services, etc.; accommodating:
The clerk was most obliging.
2.
obligating.
Origin
1630-40; oblige + -ing2
Related forms
obligingly, adverb
obligingness, noun
unobliging, adjective
Synonyms
1. helpful, kind, friendly.

oblige

[uh-blahyj] /əˈblaɪdʒ/
verb (used with object), obliged, obliging.
1.
to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity.
2.
to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract.
3.
to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service:
I'm much obliged for the ride.
4.
to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation:
Mr. Weems will oblige us with a song.
5.
to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory:
Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.
verb (used without object), obliged, obliging.
6.
to be kindly accommodating:
I'll do anything within reason to oblige.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English obligen < Old French obligier < Latin obligāre to bind. See obligate
Related forms
obligedly
[uh-blahy-jid-lee] /əˈblaɪ dʒɪd li/ (Show IPA), adverb
obligedness, noun
obliger, noun
preoblige, verb (used with object), preobliged, preobliging.
reoblige, verb (used with object), reobliged, reobliging.
unobliged, adjective
Can be confused
coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige (see synonym study at the current entry)
obligate, oblige.
Synonyms
1. compel, force. 2. obligate. 4. Oblige, accommodate imply making a gracious and welcome gesture of some kind. Oblige emphasizes the idea of conferring a favor or benefit (and often of taking some trouble to do it): to oblige someone with a loan. Accommodate emphasizes doing a service or furnishing a convenience: to accommodate someone with lodgings and meals.
Examples from the web for obliging
  • Small and innovative firms began obliging them, and big firms increasingly felt forced to follow suit.
  • Governments are also obliging utilities to get involved in the business of energy efficiency.
  • And politicians, obliging creatures that they are, are eager to give the people what they want.
  • The boots made legs and feet feel heavy, encased, obliging then wearer to stand up straight.
  • Constructive survivors' behavior include obliging responses of feeling calm, relief, commitment and loyalty.
British Dictionary definitions for obliging

obliging

/əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/
adjective
1.
ready to do favours; agreeable; kindly
Derived Forms
obligingly, adverb
obligingness, noun

oblige

/əˈblaɪdʒ/
verb
1.
(transitive; often passive) to bind or constrain (someone to do something) by legal, moral, or physical means
2.
(transitive; usually passive) to make indebted or grateful (to someone) by doing a favour or service: we are obliged to you for dinner
3.
to do a service or favour to (someone): she obliged the guest with a song
Derived Forms
obliger, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French obliger, from Latin obligāre, from ob- to, towards + ligāre to bind
Word Origin and History for obliging
adj.

"willing to do service or favors," 1630s, present participle adjective from oblige. Related: Obligingly.

oblige

v.

c.1300, "to bind by oath," from Old French obligier "engage one's faith, commit (oneself), pledge" (13c.), from Latin obligare "to bind, bind up, bandage," figuratively "put under obligation," from ob "to" (see ob-) + ligare "to bind," from PIE root *leig- "to bind" (see ligament). Main modern meaning "to make (someone) indebted by conferring a benefit or kindness" is from 1560s. Related: obliged; obliging.