— obligatorily /euh blig"euh tawr'euh lee, -tohr'-, ob"li geuh-, euh blig'euh tawr"euh lee, -tohr"-, ob'li geuh-/ , adv. — obligatoriness , n.
/euh blig"euh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee, ob"li geuh-/ , adj.
1. required as a matter of obligation; mandatory: A reply is desirable but not obligatory.
2. incumbent or compulsory (usually fol. by on or upon ): duties obligatory on all.
3. imposing moral or legal obligation; binding: an obligatory promise.
4. creating or recording an obligation, as a document.
[ 1425-75; late ME obligatorius binding, equiv. to L obliga ( re ) to bind (see OBLIGATE) + -torius -TORY 1 ]
Syn. 2. necessary, imperative.
Ant. 2. voluntary.