oblĭgātĭo

I. In gen.

A. A binding (post-class. and very rare): propter linguae obligationem, Just. 13, 7, 1.—

B. Trop., an ensnaring, entangling: innocentium, Dig. 48, 10, 1: declinantes in obligationes, Vulg. Psa. 124, 5: in obligatione iniquitatis, id. Act. 8, 23.—

II. In partic., jurid. t. t.

A. An engaging or pledging, an obligation: est gravior et difficilior animi et sententiae pro aliquo quam pecuniae obligatio, Cic. Ep. ad Brut. 1, 18, 3: obligationis onere praetoris auxilio non levabitur, Dig. 3, 3, 67: obligationes ex contractu aut re contrahuntur, aut verbis, aut consensu, ib. 44, 7, 1, § 1.—

B. Transf., an obligatory relation between two persons, one of whom has a right and the other a duty (the right of the creditor and the duty of the debtor): nunc transeamus ad obligationes: omnis enim obligatio vel ex contractu nascitur vel ex delicto, Gai. Inst. 3, 88; cf. sqq.: obligationum substantia in eo consistit, ut alium nobis obstringat ad dandum aliquid, vel faciendum, vel praestandum, Dig. 44, 7, 3; 45, 1, 108: ex maleficio nascuntur obligationes, ib. 44, 7, 4: obligatio et constituitur et solvitur, ib. 46, 4, 8: exstinguitur, ib. 45, 1, 140: submovetur, ib. 2, 14, 27 et saep.—

C. The document which confirms this relation, a bond, obligation: pignoris obligatio etiam inter absentes recte ex contractu obligatur, Dig. 20, 1, 23; 48, 11, 28.