Main Entry: ¹ob·bli·ga·to

Pronunciation: \ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Italian, obligatory, from past participle of obbligare to oblige, from Latin obligare — more at oblige

Date: 1794

: not to be omitted : obligatory —used as a direction in music — compare ad libitum