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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Oblige, v. Also: oblidge, -ligd, -lege, -ledge, -leig(e, -leidg(e, -leigde, -leeidge, -liege, -liedge, -leadge. P.p. also obligede, obleidgait. [ME. oblige (1297), -lege, e.m.E. oblyge (Caxton), -lige, -liege, OF. obliger (1267 in Hatz.-Darm.), L. obligāre Obligat v. In Sc. much less common than Oblis until the 17th c.] To bind, pledge, commit, compel, oblige, in various senses of Oblis v.a. passive (1) 1379 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
Fourty markis worth of land in the qwilkes the forsaid Erle of Angous was obligit be his lettres to gyve me heritably 1398–9 Acts I. 210/2.
The quhilkis consail … sal be obligit be thair lettres and sworne til gife hym lele consail Ib. 211/2. 1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 143.
The haill communitie … became voluntarlie bound and obleidged … to make payment of the superplus a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 232.
Quher a man is oblidged be writt to suffer a tenent to bruik his lands [etc.] 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 100.
Obliedged 1646 Melville Chart. 174.
Bound and obleig'd 1658 R. Moray Lett. 10 Jan.
If you were to make a bargain with Glenlyon you might get him obliged to deliver the timber at Perth 1662 Ure Rutherglen 48.
Astricted & obleidged 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 222.
Obleidgit 1666 Ib. 233.
Obleidgait 1667 Ib. 236.
Obleidgeit 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xx. § v (1699) 108.
Oblieged 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv. 303.
And swa be obleadged to take the test 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 121.
Obleeidged 1701 New Mills Manuf. 234.
Obleidged(2) 1684-9 Glamis Bk. Record 88.
He must be obleidged that the trees fall all as the allow lyes to the east(3) 1644 Inverness Rec. II. 183.
Being requyrit … to goe in the said expeditioune … being many wayes oblidgit thairto be covenant and his burges aithe 1653 Scotland and the Commonwealth 141.
Since your lands pay sesse to the Kinges enemies … these heir will nott thinke themselves obliged to any good neighbourhood(4) a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 141.
Fund that ane woman heretrix may not be oblidged with her husband for soumes of money heretablie(5) 1651 Laing MSS. I. 260.
Not onlie the army in generall bot also your lordship in particular is obleidged by your publict faith 1681 Stair Inst. i. xii. § 19.
Oblieged(6) 1398–9 Liber Melros 488.
Me Archebalde McDowell … be halden trewly … obligede til … Dauid Abbot of Melros … in foure skore and ten pond of gude moneb. reflex. (1) 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
The saide Sir Williame and Rankyn his son oblige thaim … to pay [etc.] 1398–9 Liber Melros II. 489. c1420 Wynt. v. 3813 (C).
I obligis [R. oblys, W. oblis] me for til fulfil Al ȝour biddynge 1542 Mill Mediæv. Plays 148.
Alexander Kayn wes accusit in jugment for his vyff becaus he oblegit hym to anser for hir deidis 1565 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 425.
Oblegis 1590 Misc. Spald. C. II. 93.
Oblidges c1610 Melville Mem. 182.
Obligit 1646 Baillie II. 400.
The assemblie obleidged themselves by promise to sitt before and after noon for some tyme 1647 Burnett Fam. P.
I … bindis & obleigis me … to warrant [etc.] 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 425.
Obleidge 1683 Cullen Kirk S. 13 July.
Obliedging themselves to refund [etc.] 1683 Fam. Rose 67.
[Lands] which he obliedged himself to be worth to them ten pounds yearlie rent(2) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 371.
The Lord Gordoun did obleidge himselff that [etc.] 1653 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 62. 1673 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 287.
Oblige 1686 Stitchill Baron Ct. 101.
Obleidge 1686 Misc. Spald. C.V. 234.
All hearitors [etc.] … to causs thair tennants oblidge themselvis … that they sall … heirefter leiv peaceablie(3) 1638 Baillie I. 170.
There was privat weell-willers who did obleidge themselves for a stipend to him till a place should vaike 1644 S. Leith Rec. 50.
The said moderator named … Mr Jon Andersone … to be scoolmr for whom he wold oblige himselffe for his qualifica[ti]one(4) 1526 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I. 154.
Ws … to be bundin and straitlie oblest and … lelie and treulie bindis and oblegis ws … to … Jhone Murray 1644 Acts VI. i. 81/2.
The persons whom the lenneris sall desyre to be bund to them sall either obleidge themselfes to the lenneris or [etc.]c. tr. (1) 1657 Aberd. Council Lett. III. 302 (see Obligato(u)r a. 1 b (2)). 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 12.
Whatsomever should be concluded … should nowayes tye … obleidge or burden them ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II. 114.
This oathe obleidgeth not the now tackers therof furder then it did the first tackers therof(2) 1642 Baillie II. 35.
The great respects, which sixteen … yeares intime familiaritie oblidges me to carrie to your lordship 1646 Melville Chart. 173.
Wee haue pouer … to contract debts … obleidging the persons thereto succeeding to be lyable in payment thereof 16.. Abercrummie in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 5.
Ancient occurrences the historie whereof not having been preserved … oblidges us to observe them only 1671 Inverness Rec. II. 249.
They heirby enact and stricklie oblidges the quholl counsell … to … defend tham [etc.] 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 203.
To obleidge all unfriemen … to liver and loaden all veschellis at Port Glasgow 1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 567.
Oblidge 1698 Laing MSS. I. 486.
Ther is nothing taken from him which law would not obleidge him to yeild(3) 1641 Baillie I. 394.
That the oath which he had invented, obliedged the parliament … to ane accurate tryall of all … plotters(4) a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 100.
Titius oblidged himself to Seia in 500 merksd. 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 459.
He granted band of boddomrie for eight hundreth pounds … oblidging the said ship for payment thereofe. (1) c1650 Spalding I. 263.
Thus the King is oblegit to Holland 1648 Laing MSS. I. 229.
Obleidged(2) 1651 Laing MSS. I. 267.
If he has any respect to me or thinks that ever I obleigded him [etc.] 1660 Ib. 280.
Obleig 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 131.
That I would obligd them infinitly by subscryving it 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 243.
That it shall obledge me that ye tak the band of fifitei threi pownd … whair by ye shal obleidg your afectionat frind