obligar
/obliˈɡaɾ/ · A2 · verb
to force, to compel, to make
⛓️ obligar = ob (toward) + ligar (to tie): to bind someone to a duty
From Latin obligare, ob- (toward) + ligare (to bind). Same root as English oblige, obligation and ligament. Spanish ligar still means to tie, so obligar is literally tying someone to an action: forcing or compelling them.