Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Obligation \Ob"li*ga"tion\, n. [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See
   {Oblige}.]
   1. The act of obligating.

   2. That which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a
      promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that which
      constitutes legal or moral duty.

            A tender conscience is a stronger obligation than a
            proson.                               --Fuller.

   3. Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to
      or for anouther, or to forbear something; external duties
      imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of
      society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc.

            Every man has obligations which belong to his
            station. Duties extend beyond obligation, and direct
            the affections, desires, and intentions, as well as
            the actions.                          --Whewell.

   4. The state of being obligated or bound; the state of being
      indebted for an act of favor or kindness; as, to place
      others under obligations to one.

   5. (Law) A bond with a condition annexed, and a penalty for
      nonfulfillment. In a larger sense, it is an acknowledgment
      of a duty to pay a certain sum or do a certain things.

   {Days of obligation}. See under {Day}.



   {Anniversary day}. See {Anniversary}, n.

   {Astronomical day}, a period equal to the mean solar day, but
      beginning at noon instead of at midnight, its twenty-four
      hours being numbered from 1 to 24; also, the sidereal day,
      as that most used by astronomers.

   {Born days}. See under {Born}.

   {Canicular days}. See {Dog day}.

   {Civil day}, the mean solar day, used in the ordinary
      reckoning of time, and among most modern nations beginning
      at mean midnight; its hours are usually numbered in two
      series, each from 1 to 12. This is the period recognized
      by courts as constituting a day. The Babylonians and
      Hindoos began their day at sunrise, the Athenians and Jews
      at sunset, the ancient Egyptians and Romans at midnight.
      

   {Day blindness}. (Med.) See {Nyctalopia}.

   {Day by day}, or {Day after day}, daily; every day;
      continually; without intermission of a day. See under
      {By}. ``Day by day we magnify thee.'' --Book of Common
      Prayer.

   {Days in bank} (Eng. Law), certain stated days for the return
      of writs and the appearance of parties; -- so called
      because originally peculiar to the Court of Common Bench,
      or Bench (bank) as it was formerly termed. --Burrill.

   {Day in court}, a day for the appearance of parties in a
      suit.

   {Days of devotion} (R. C. Ch.), certain festivals on which
      devotion leads the faithful to attend mass. --Shipley.

   {Days of grace}. See {Grace}.

   {Days of obligation} (R. C. Ch.), festival days when it is
      obligatory on the faithful to attend Mass. --Shipley.

   {Day owl}, (Zo["o]l.), an owl that flies by day. See {Hawk
      owl}.

   {Day rule} (Eng. Law), an order of court (now abolished)
      allowing a prisoner, under certain circumstances, to go
      beyond the prison limits for a single day.

   {Day school}, one which the pupils attend only in daytime, in
      distinction from a boarding school.

   {Day sight}. (Med.) See {Hemeralopia}.

   {Day's work} (Naut.), the account or reckoning of a ship's
      course for twenty-four hours, from noon to noon.

   {From day to day}, as time passes; in the course of time; as,
      he improves from day to day.

   {Jewish day}, the time between sunset and sunset.

   {Mean solar day} (Astron.), the mean or average of all the
      apparent solar days of the year.

   {One day}, {One of these days}, at an uncertain time, usually
      of the future, rarely of the past; sooner or later.
      ``Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a
      husband.'' --Shak.

   {Only from day to day}, without certainty of continuance;
      temporarily. --Bacon.

   {Sidereal day}, the interval between two successive transits
      of the first point of Aries over the same meridian. The
      Sidereal day is 23 h. 56 m. 4.09 s. of mean solar time.

   {To win the day}, to gain the victory, to be successful. --S.
      Butler.

   {Week day}, any day of the week except Sunday; a working day.
      

   {Working day}.
      (a) A day when work may be legally done, in distinction
          from Sundays and legal holidays.
      (b) The number of hours, determined by law or custom,
          during which a workman, hired at a stated price per
          day, must work to be entitled to a day's pay.