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Pedants' corner
Original poster

is "obligated" a word?

38 replies

hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:27

because I don't think it is and I see it a lot in legal-ish docs and it really gets on my nerves. The word is surely "obliged" no?

OP posts:
TheProfiteroleThief · 22/04/2009 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 13:30

Obligated is a word and isn't the same as obliged
Obligated means to be bound to do something, ie something binds you to do something. Obliged means you are indebted to someone for doing something. Very different meanings.

onebatmother · 22/04/2009 13:32

Americanism.

Obliged, obligation

It's that verb from a noun thing again, isn't it, even though a verb exists already.

onebatmother · 22/04/2009 13:33

Obliged does NOT simply mean indebted. It means bound too.

I am obliged to you, Peter.
Because I agreed to his terms, I am obliged to give John half my earnings.

Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:35

not sure I agree FM. to be obliged surely means simply "to have an obligation". And obligations can arise in a number of ways - including both being bound (eg legally), and being indebted.

OP posts:
Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:35

not sure I agree FM. to be obliged surely means simply "to have an obligation". And obligations can arise in a number of ways - including both being bound (eg legally), and being indebted.

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 22/04/2009 13:36

No it isn't. Obliged is the word. The correct word.

Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:38

if creating a verb from a noun is "verbing", then is this a case of "reverbing"?

OP posts:
FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 13:39

Yes, to be obliged means to be grateful for some service having been given and can also mean binding but the OP asked if obligated was a word as she didn't think it was, and the answer to the OP is yes, obligated IS a word and it is used differently to the word oblige.
The reason it is seen a lot in legal docs is because an obligation can be a power of law.
It's not an Americanism.
hatwoman - out if interest, if you want to know if a word exists, why come on MN, why not just look it up in a dictionary....

Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:42

FM - because the only dictionary I own is shite. Also, it doesn't discuss things with me (and it's upstairs). and because the habituees of pedants corner are excellent.

OP posts:
theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 13:43

some useful info here - particularly see Tom's post regarding the difference nuances of the two words, and John's post which contradicts the idea that it is an Americanism.

I don't have access to the OED here, but according to his post, the first recorded use was in Pamela (published 1740)

FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 13:44

Understood - only asking because you asked if it was a word but don't believe me when I say it is! Wasn't being funny, just curious!

Threadworm · 22/04/2009 13:45

OED has it, with several meanings, one of which is = to 'obliged'. First use 1539.

TheProfiteroleThief · 22/04/2009 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrmIrian · 22/04/2009 13:48

same here thief. Ugly ugly word. I refuse to accept it. So there!

onebatmother · 22/04/2009 13:51

LOL Profiterole

Okay, I accept not a recent americanism. but nevertheless silly, unwieldy, unnecessary.

obligatedness?

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 22/04/2009 13:55

I would class it as an illegal back-formation from the noun. It doesn't do anything obliged doesn't already do and is therefore unnecessary (and clunky).

Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:56

my lack of agreement wasn't meant to refer to the existence of the word obligated - it was with reference to your definition of "obliged" . But it all exemplifies why pedants' corner is so much more fun than a dictionary .

OP posts:
theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 13:57

I don't mind it - and used in the right context I think its unweildy clutteredness can be an asset, if I say I feel "obligated" to do something, it tends to convey more of the faff and bother involved than the simpler, more elegant obliged.

(interested to know that Threadworm says the OED has it even earlier - I expect my link is wrong/out of date. Threadworm, where is it cited, just out of interest?)

Original poster
hatwoman · 22/04/2009 13:58

ie I come on pedants' corner for a discussion, not, as such, an answer.[hat wonders whather she should in fact be getting on with work...]

OP posts:
FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 13:58

hehe! Yes,hatwoman, I couldn't agree more! As soon as I had posted, I realised I'd not properly put the meaning ndown - slapped hand here for coming into the corner and not checking my post before clicking on send!!!

theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 13:59

"I would class it as an illegal back-formation from the noun"

eh!!?

Since when is forming a verb/adjective from a noun illegal? It's not only extremely common, it's also a time-honoured practice.

Threadworm · 22/04/2009 14:06

Young visitor, it doesn't give a source, just a date.

Actually I've just looked more carefully and in the 1539 use 'obligate' is equal to 'obliged'.

In a more recent use (chiefly U.S.) 'to obligate' is a verb equal to 'to oblige'.

There are several other uses.

theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 14:14

is that the full oed you've got threadworm? I thought they always gave the source quotes? (they normally do)

Threadworm · 22/04/2009 14:15

no -- SOED