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obligate

ob·li·gate [ óbbli gàyt ]


transitive verb  (past and past participle ob·li·gat·ed, present participle ob·li·gat·ing, 3rd person present singular ob·li·gates)
Definition:
 
1. compel somebody legally or morally: to compel somebody to do something as a legal or moral duty

2. U.S. commit funds as security: to commit something, especially funds, to fulfill an obligation, e.g. as security



adjective 
Definition:
 
only existing in one environment: describes an organism that can exist only in a particular role or under particular environmental conditions.
See also  facultative (sense 3)


[15th century. < Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare (see oblige)]

ob·li·ga·ble [ óbbligəb'l ] adjective
ob·li·gate·ly adverb
ob·li·ga·tor noun
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