All 50 Uses of
oblige
in
Bleak House
- It seems so curious to me to be obliged to write all this about myself!
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- "If you please, sir," said I. He was very obliging, and as he handed me into a fly after superintending the removal of my boxes, I asked him whether there was a great fire anywhere?
Chpt 1-3 (definition 2)obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- He dismissed us pleasantly, and we all went out, very much obliged to him for being so affable and polite, by which he had certainly lost no dignity but seemed to us to have gained some.
Chpt 1-3 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- As Ada was a little frightened, I said, to humour the poor old lady, that we were much obliged to her.
Chpt 1-3 (definition 3)
- We were obliged to take notice of that with our sense of sight, even while, with our sense of hearing, we followed the poor child who had tumbled downstairs: I think into the back kitchen, where somebody seemed to stifle him.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- We are very much obliged to you!
Chpt 4-6 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- I feel obliged to him for possessing it.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 3)
- Much obliged to you, ma'am!
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- Mr. Guppy is obliged to her for the information and is, moreover, generally obliged.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- Mr. Guppy is obliged to her for the information and is, moreover, generally obliged.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- We were obliged to say that we had not the pleasure of Mr. Gusher's acquaintance.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- "Much obliged!" said Mr. Boythorn.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- No, I am much obliged to you, miss, I'm sure.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- I said, "Get up from that ridiculous position immediately, sir, or you will oblige me to break my implied promise and ring the bell!"†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 2)
- Mr. Tulkinghorn, comprehending it, inclines his head and says he is much obliged.
Chpt 10-12 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- I am much obliged to Mrs. Jellyby.
Chpt 13-15 (definition 3)
- To settle that question, my brother filing a bill, I was obliged to go into this accursed Chancery; I was forced there because the law forced me and would let me go nowhere else.
Chpt 13-15 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- They was obliged to stamp upon it to git it in.
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- Now, if I had stayed at Badger's I should have been obliged to spend twelve pounds at a blow for some heart-breaking lecture-fees.
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- "I am sorry, ladies," he said, standing bare-headed at the carriage-door when all was ready, "that I am obliged to conduct you nearly two miles out of the way."
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1) *
- The service being concluded, Sir Leicester gave his arm with much taste and gallantry to Lady Dedlock—though he was obliged to walk by the help of a thick stick—and escorted her out of church to the pony carriage in which they had come.
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- "I am aware of the circumstances," returned my guardian with a smile, "and am sufficiently obliged."
Chpt 16-18 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- "He won't move on," says the constable calmly, with a slight professional hitch of his neck involving its better settlement in his stiff stock, "although he has been repeatedly cautioned, and therefore I am obliged to take him into custody."
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- "It was very good-natured of you, sir," says Mr. Snagsby, "and I am obliged to you."
Chpt 19-21 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- It is enough to mention that both Mr. and Mrs. Snagsby are very willing to oblige me and that Snagsby has, in busy times, a good deal of copying work to give out.
Chpt 19-21 (definition 2)oblige = grant a favor
- "I was willing enough to be 'made,' as you call it," says Mr. George, smoking not quite so placidly as before, for since the entrance of Judy he has been in some measure disturbed by a fascination, not of the admiring kind, which obliges him to look at her as she stands by her grandfather's chair, "but on the whole, I am glad I wasn't now."
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)obliges = requires (to do something)
- "And if you have no real objection to accompany Mr. Bucket to the place in question," pursues the lawyer, "I shall feel obliged to you if you will do so."
Chpt 22-24 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- "I am sure I am much obliged to you for your good opinion," returns the stationer with his cough of modesty, "but—"
Chpt 22-24 (definition 3)
- On account of which, and at the same time to oblige a—do you call it, in your business, customer or client?
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)oblige = grant a favor
- On account of which, and at the same time to oblige a real good customer, you mean to go down with me, in confidence, to Tom-all-Alone's and to keep the whole thing quiet ever afterwards and never mention it to any one.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)
- She has almost deserted her old employment and in fact obliges me to employ a boy.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)obliges = requires (to do something)
- I gradually cheered her up by dwelling on the many things she would do for her unfortunate father and for Peepy when she had a home of her own; and finally we went downstairs into the damp dark kitchen, where Peepy and his little brothers and sisters were grovelling on the stone floor and where we had such a game of play with them that to prevent myself from being quite torn to pieces I was obliged to fall back on my fairy-tales.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- "If you have come to give me a friendly call," continues Mr. George, "I am obliged to you; how are you?"
Chpt 25-27 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- We are obliged to you for the plainness with which you have spoken.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3)
- I am much obliged to you, but I have to travel all night in order to reach a distant part of the country punctually at an appointed time in the morning.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3)
- "That your ladyship would have the kindness to oblige me with a little conversation," returns Mr. Guppy, embarrassed.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 2)oblige = grant a favor
- I wish your ladyship good day, and am much obliged to you all the same.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- But by obliging me to employ a boy, Caddy has embarrassed me to that extent, overwhelmed as I am with public business, that I don't know which way to turn.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)obliging = requiring (obligating) to do something
- But I was in a manner drawn into that step, and I thought it might steady me, and set me up, and you'll try to overlook my having such expectations, and upon my soul, I am very much obliged to you, and very much ashamed of myself.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- "Why this," returns George, not able to be very conciliatory at first, "is Matthew Bagnet, who has obliged me in that matter of ours, you know."
Chpt 34-36 (definition 2) *obliged = granted a favor to
- The little creature—sent into the world, surely, to minister to the weak and sick—was so happy, and so busy, and stopped so often in her preparations to lay her head upon my bosom, and fondle me, and cry with joyful tears she was so glad, she was so glad, that I was obliged to say, "Charley, if you go on in this way, I must lie down again, my darling, for I am weaker than I thought I was!"
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- I was obliged to confess that I did not quite know what she meant.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- And I DID read all the noble history, though very slowly and imperfectly then, for my eyes were so dimmed that I could not see the words, and I cried so much that I was many times obliged to lay down the long account she had cut out of the newspaper.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- We arrived at such a capital understanding that when he was jogging with me lazily, and rather obstinately, down some shady lane, if I patted his neck and said, "Stubbs, I am surprised you don't canter when you know how much I like it; and I think you might oblige me, for you are only getting stupid and going to sleep," he would give his head a comical shake or two and set off directly, while Charley would stand still and laugh with such enjoyment that her laughter was like music.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 2)oblige = grant a favor
- Consequently I was obliged to lead the way, as before; and in this order we returned home, to the great delight of the village.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- The difficulty that I felt in being quite composed that first evening when Ada asked me, over our work, if the family were at the house, and when I was obliged to answer yes, I believed so, for Lady Dedlock had spoken to me in the woods the day before yesterday, was great.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 1)
- "I am afraid everybody is obliged to be," said I timidly enough, he being so much older and more clever than I.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 1)
- But every man's not obliged to be solvent?
Chpt 37-39 (definition 1)
- I expressed myself much obliged to him, but did not think it necessary to add that I readily dispensed with this attention.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- Much obliged.
Chpt 37-39 (definition 3)
Definitions:
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(1) (oblige as in: I am obliged by law.) require (obligate) to do something
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(2) (oblige as in: I obliged her every request.) grant a favor to someone
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(3) (obliged as in: I'm much obliged for your kindness) grateful or indebted