Obligate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obligated; p. pr. & vb. n. Obligating.]
Etymology: [L. obligatus, p.p. of obligare. See Oblige.]
1. To bring or place under obligation, moral or legal; to hold by a constraining motive. "Obligated by a sense of duty." Proudfit. That's your true plan -- to obligate The present ministers of state. Churchill.
2. To bind or firmly hold to an act; to compel; to constrain; to bind to any act of duty or courtesy by a formal pledge. That they may not incline or be obligated to any vile or lowly occupations. Landor.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists obligate only as an antonym, under absolve.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given