Verb
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bind by an obligation
cause to be indebted
"He's held by a contract"
"I'll hold you by your promise"
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commit in order to fulfill an obligation
"obligate money"
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force somebody to do something
"We compel all students to fill out this form"
Adjective
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restricted to a particular condition of life
"an obligate anaerobe can survive only in the absence of oxygen"