unobligedadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnəˈblʌɪdʒd/, U.S. /ˌənəˈblaɪdʒd/ 1. Of a person: not bound or constrained (to do something); not under an obligation, not beholden.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > freedom of action or from restraint > [adjective] > free from obligations or ties
freeOE
loosec1374
unbound1390
unobligedc1580
footloose1650
free-floating1927
c1580 ( in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1871) II. 97 Being alwayis vnoblist or bundin to remane with Antuerpe at stapill bot to be fre euer thairof to pas quhair plessis thame.
1663 E. Waterhouse Fortescutus Illustratus xxxv. 448 The King..prevents the dangerous effects of displeased and unobliged Greatness.
1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 154 A prudent..Drawer will judge himself unobliged to make any Bills, but such as make the Value to be received of the Remitter.
a1750 N. Walter Disc. LV Chapter Isaiah (1755) 157 God is no ways indebted to any of his creatures, but absolutely free and unobliged.
1811 R. B. Sheridan Let. 30 Apr. (1966) III. 118 I can say from the sincerity of my soul that the most unobliged man on earth in this way strugling with distress thro' his life is myself.
1864 D. D. Whedon Freedom of Will ii. iv. 300 The Jews and Gentiles are both at Jerusalem, foreseen to be ready and willing to be the unobliged crucifiers.
1917 Advocate of Peace Feb. 52/2 Finding himself unobliged to explain his own attitude..he marvels at the mental contortions of the militarists.
2008 Canberra Times (Nexis) 14 June a12 Like all able and unobliged critics, Riemer entices us to read or re-read their books.
2. Not obligatory, unforced, unnecessary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > free will > [adjective] > non-obligatory
uncompulsory1567
unnecessitated1635
unobligatory1645
non-essential1647
unobliged1726
optional1779
unimperative1817
facultative1822
1726 J. Reynolds Relig. Jesus Delineated 126 They celebrate the good-will (the free, unobliged, eternal good-will) that contrived them for all their glory.
1741 J. Edwards Sinners in Hands of Angry God 12 All that preserves them every Moment is the meer arbitrary Will, and uncovenanted, unobliged Forbearance of an incensed God.
1806 ‘Crito’ Lett. to Eminent Men i. 7 If the minister obtains this unvoted and unobliged credit with the directors of the bank.
1855 F. W. Faber Growth in Holiness (ed. 2) v. 79 Look at the phenomena of the Incarnation, what were they? Helplessness, unnecessary and unobliged suffering.
1947 P. Hughes Hist. Church III. v. 500 In the indulgence system the Church associated herself officially and solemnly with a man's willingness to make such special and ‘unobliged’ exertions.
2005 J. H. Grainger Tony Blair & Ideal Type 68 He [sc. Tony Blair] seldom puts in an unobliged appearance in the chamber.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.c1580