3 meanings, 27 uses
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1 —12 uses as in:
I am obliged by law.
Definition
require (obligate) to do something
- I was obliged to admit that I did know it for a certainty,Chapter 17 (72% in)
obliged = required (to do something)
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- "You know I was obliged," said Camilla,—"I was obliged to be firm."Chapter 11 (16% in)
- "You know I was obliged," said Camilla,—"I was obliged to be firm."Chapter 11 (16% in)
- I was obliged to answer in some confusion, "I don't think I am, ma'am."Chapter 11 (30% in)
- Raymond is a witness what ginger and sal volatile I am obliged to take in the night.Chapter 11 (50% in)
- Sarah Pocket and Georgiana contended who should remain last; but Sarah was too knowing to be outdone, and ambled round Georgiana with that artful slipperiness that the latter was obliged to take precedence.Chapter 11 (66% in)
- This unexpected inquiry put me into such a difficulty that I began saying in the absurdest way that if there had been any such person I had no doubt she would have been quite well and would have been very much obliged and would have sent her compliments, when the nurse came to my rescue.Chapter 22 (89% in)
- How long we might have remained in this ridiculous position it is impossible to say, but for the incursion of three thriving farmers—laid on by the waiter, I think—who came into the coffee-room unbuttoning their great-coats and rubbing their hands, and before whom, as they charged at the fire, we were obliged to give way.Chapter 43 (91% in)
- I was so very nervous, that I had already lighted the Aged's sausage like a torch, and been obliged to blow it out.Chapter 45 (39% in)
- The truth was, that she had objected to me as an expensive companion who did Herbert no good, and that, when Herbert had first proposed to present me to her, she had received the proposal with such very moderate warmth, that Herbert had felt himself obliged to confide the state of the case to me, with a view to the lapse of a little time before I made her acquaintance.Chapter 45 (72% in)
- Put the case that a woman, under such circumstances as you have mentioned, held her child concealed, and was obliged to communicate the fact to her legal adviser, on his representing to her that he must know, with an eye to the latitude of his defence, how the fact stood about that child.Chapter 51 (63% in)
- If we had been waited on by any boat, I should have run in to shore, and have obliged her to go on, or to make her purpose evident.Chapter 54 (19% in)
There are no more uses of "oblige" flagged with this meaning in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —7 uses as in:
I obliged her every request.
Definition
grant a favor to someone
- Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.Chapter 10 (4% in)
obliging = helpful
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- But he punished the Amens tremendously; and when he gave out the psalm,—always giving the whole verse,—he looked all round the congregation first, as much as to say, "You have heard my friend overhead; oblige me with your opinion of this style!"Chapter 4 (34% in)
- I drew Joe away, and he immediately became placable; merely stating to me, in an obliging manner and as a polite expostulatory notice to any one whom it might happen to concern, that he were not a going to be bull-baited and badgered in his own place.Chapter 18 (70% in)
- He was so obliging as to suggest my father for your tutor, and he called on my father to propose it.Chapter 22 (11% in)
- If it's not in any way disagreeable to you, you'll oblige me by doing the same.Chapter 25 (78% in)
- An obliging stranger, under pretence of compactly folding up my bank-notes for security's sake, abstracts the notes and gives me nutshells; but what is his sleight of hand to mine, when I fold up my own nutshells and pass them on myself as notes!Chapter 28 (7% in)
- But if you could oblige me, I should take it as a kindness.Chapter 55 (61% in)
There are no more uses of "oblige" flagged with this meaning in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —8 uses as in:
I'm much obliged for your kindness
Definition
grateful or indebted
- I only wanted you to know that I am doing very well in my apprenticeship, and am always much obliged to you.Chapter 15 (69% in)
obliged = grateful or indebted
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt's at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.Chapter 10 (3% in)
- I said, or tried to say, that I was much obliged to him for his recommendation—Chapter 18 (55% in)
- Not recollecting myself, I began again that I was much obliged to him for his recommendation—Chapter 18 (56% in)
- Correcting myself, I said that I was much obliged to him for his mention of Mr. Matthew Pocket—Chapter 18 (57% in)
- Good morning, sir, much obliged.Chapter 19 (41% in)
- No more, dear Mr. Pip, from your ever obliged, and affectionate servant, "BIDDY."Chapter 27 (4% in)
- While I felt sincerely obliged to him for being so interested and considerate, I had an odd half-provoked sense of suspicion upon me, that if Joe had been coming to see him, he wouldn't have been quite so brisk about it.Chapter 27 (18% in)
There are no more uses of "obliged" flagged with this meaning in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)