obligation

The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.countableuncountable

A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.countableuncountable

• I feel I'm under obligation to attend my sister's wedding, even though we have a very frosty relationship.

A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.countableuncountable

A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.countableuncountable

• The Pupil after his Pupillarity, had granted a Diſcharge to one of the Co-tutors, which did extinguiſh the whole Debt of that Co-tutor, and conſequently of all the reſt, they being all correi debendi, lyable by one individual Obligation, wh

Reason for being obliged to, that is, grateful for, something.countable

• I am indebted to several friends for notes, observations, and correspondence on this subject, more especially to one, referred to as "Z.," and to another as "Q.," who have obtained a considerable number of reliable histories for me, and hav