All 38 Uses of
oblige
in
Persuasion
- But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged to confess to her soon afterwards.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Herself the widow of only a knight, she gave the dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his claims as an old acquaintance, an attentive neighbour, an obliging landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and her sisters, was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to a great deal of compassion and consideration under his present difficulties.
Chpt 2 (definition 2)obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- "The lawyer plods, quite care-worn; the physician is up at all hours, and travelling in all weather; and even the clergyman—" she stopt a moment to consider what might do for the clergyman;—"and even the clergyman, you know is obliged to go into infected rooms, and expose his health and looks to all the injury of a poisonous atmosphere."
Chpt 3 (definition 1) *
- In fact, as I have long been convinced, though every profession is necessary and honourable in its turn, it is only the lot of those who are not obliged to follow any, who can live in a regular way, in the country, choosing their own hours, following their own pursuits, and living on their own property, without the torment of trying for more; it is only their lot, I say, to hold the blessings of health and a good appearance to the utmost: I know no other set of men but what lose…
Chpt 3 (definition 1)
- I have made no enquiries, because I concluded you must have been obliged to give up the party.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)
- She had given him up to oblige others.
Chpt 7 (definition 2)oblige = grant a favor
- She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa, and remain there to satisfy her patient; and thus they continued a few minutes, when, to her very great satisfaction, she heard some other person crossing the little vestibule.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Mary had shewn herself disobliging to him, and was now to reap the consequence, which consequence was his dropping her arm almost every moment to cut off the heads of some nettles in the hedge with his switch; and when Mary began to complain of it, and lament her being ill-used, according to custom, in being on the hedge side, while Anne was never incommoded on the other, he dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which he had a momentary glance of, and they could hardly get…†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- The Admiral's kind urgency came in support of his wife's; they would not be refused; they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave her a corner, and Captain Wentworth, without saying a word, turned to her, and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the carriage.
Chpt 10 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Captain Harville, though not equalling Captain Wentworth in manners, was a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging.
Chpt 11 (definition 2) *obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- While Captains Wentworth and Harville led the talk on one side of the room, and by recurring to former days, supplied anecdotes in abundance to occupy and entertain the others, it fell to Anne's lot to be placed rather apart with Captain Benwick; and a very good impulse of her nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance with him.
Chpt 11 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table, and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings this picture excited.
Chpt 17 (definition 1)
- He was standing by himself at a printshop window, with his hands behind him, in earnest contemplation of some print, and she not only might have passed him unseen, but was obliged to touch as well as address him before she could catch his notice.
Chpt 18 (definition 1)
- She hoped when clear of Milsom Street to have her curiosity gratified; but she was still obliged to wait, for the Admiral had made up his mind not to begin till they had gained the greater space and quiet of Belmont; and as she was not really Mrs Croft, she must let him have his own way.
Chpt 18 (definition 1)
- ...and, in short, her civility rendered her quite as anxious to be left to walk with Mr Elliot as Anne could be, and it was discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so determined, that the others were obliged to settle it for them; Miss Elliot maintaining that Mrs Clay had a little cold already, and Mr Elliot deciding on appeal, that his cousin Anne's boots were rather the thickest.
Chpt 19 (definition 1)
- She was lost, and when she had scolded back her senses, she found the others still waiting for the carriage, and Mr Elliot (always obliging) just setting off for Union Street on a commission of Mrs Clay's.
Chpt 19 (definition 2)obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- "I am much obliged to you," was her answer, "but I am not going with them."
Chpt 19 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- She was very much obliged to him, but declined it all, repeating her conviction, that the rain would come to nothing at present, and adding, "I am only waiting for Mr Elliot."
Chpt 19 (definition 3)
- Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin, if he would have walked by her side all the way to Camden Place, without saying a word.
Chpt 19 (definition 3)
- She had already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa Musgrove was to marry Captain Benwick.
Chpt 19 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Anne was startled and confused; but after standing in a moment's suspense, was obliged, and not sorry to be obliged, to hurry away.
Chpt 19 (definition 1)
- Anne was startled and confused; but after standing in a moment's suspense, was obliged, and not sorry to be obliged, to hurry away.
Chpt 19 (definition 1)
- They talked for a few minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying; when at that moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round.
Chpt 20 (definition 1)
- She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have expected her, though it had been an appointment.
Chpt 21 (definition 3)obliged = grateful or indebted
- She was obliged to recollect that her seeing the letter was a violation of the laws of honour, that no one ought to be judged or to be known by such testimonies, that no private correspondence could bear the eye of others, before she could recover calmness enough to return the letter which she had been meditating over, and say— "Thank you."
Chpt 21 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- It was impossible but that Mrs Clay must hate the sight of Mr Elliot; and yet she could assume a most obliging, placid look, and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license of devoting herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she would have done otherwise.
Chpt 22 (definition 2)obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell, and accomplish the necessary communication; and she would have gone directly after breakfast, but that Mrs Clay was also going out on some obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which determined her to wait till she might be safe from such a companion.
Chpt 22 (definition 2)
- Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness;
Chpt 22 (definition 3) *obliged = grateful or indebted
- They were obliged to move.
Chpt 22 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- It was transient: cleared away in an instant; but Anne could imagine she read there the consciousness of having, by some complication of mutual trick, or some overbearing authority of his, been obliged to attend (perhaps for half an hour) to his lectures and restrictions on her designs on Sir Walter.
Chpt 22 (definition 1)
- And then, if I could convey to you the glow of his soul when he does see them again; when, coming back after a twelvemonth's absence, perhaps, and obliged to put into another port, he calculates how soon it be possible to get them there, pretending to deceive himself, and saying, 'They cannot be here till such a day,' but all the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner, and seeing them arrive at last, as if Heaven had given them wings, by many hours sooner still!
Chpt 23 (definition 1)
- She began not to understand a word they said, and was obliged to plead indisposition and excuse herself.
Chpt 23 (definition 1)
- There could be only the most proper alacrity, a most obliging compliance for public view; and smiles reined in and spirits dancing in private rapture.
Chpt 23 (definition 2)obliging = helpful or willing to be helpful
- Thus much indeed he was obliged to acknowledge: that he had been constant unconsciously, nay unintentionally; that he had meant to forget her, and believed it to be done.
Chpt 23 (definition 1)obliged = required (to do something)
- Her character was now fixed on his mind as perfection itself, maintaining the loveliest medium of fortitude and gentleness; but he was obliged to acknowledge that only at Uppercross had he learnt to do her justice, and only at Lyme had he begun to understand himself.
Chpt 23 (definition 1)
- All the surprise and suspense, and every other painful part of the morning dissipated by this conversation, she re-entered the house so happy as to be obliged to find an alloy in some momentary apprehensions of its being impossible to last.
Chpt 23 (definition 1)
- While he was not obliged to say that he believed her to have been right in originally dividing them, he was ready to say almost everything else in her favour, and as for Mrs Smith, she had claims of various kinds to recommend her quickly and permanently.
Chpt 24 (definition 1)
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