Instincts alligated to their nature. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arith.) A rule relating to the solution of questions concerning the compounding or mixing of different ingredients, or ingredients of different qualities or values. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The rule is named from the method of connecting together the terms by certain ligature-like signs. Alligation is of two kinds, medial and alternate; medial teaching the method of finding the price or quality of a mixture of several simple ingredients whose prices and qualities are known; alternate, teaching the amount of each of several simple ingredients whose prices or qualities are known, which will be required to make a mixture of given price or quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) Any machine with strong jaws, one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator; as, (a) (Metal Working) a form of squeezer for the puddle ball; (b) (Mining) a rock breaker; (c) (Printing) a kind of job press, called also alligator press. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alligator apple (Bot.), the fruit of the Anona palustris, a West Indian tree. It is said to be narcotic in its properties. Loudon. --
Alligator fish (Zool.), a marine fish of northwestern America (Podothecus acipenserinus). --
Alligator gar (Zool.), one of the gar pikes (Lepidosteus spatula) found in the southern rivers of the United States. The name is also applied to other species of gar pikes. --
Alligator pear (Bot.), a corruption of Avocado pear. See Avocado. --
Alligator snapper,
Alligator tortoise,
Alligator turtle (Zool.), a very large and voracious turtle (Macrochelys lacertina) inhabiting the rivers of the southern United States. It sometimes reaches the weight of two hundred pounds. Unlike the common snapping turtle, to which the name is sometimes erroneously applied, it has a scaly head and many small scales beneath the tail. This name is sometimes given to other turtles, as to species of Trionyx. --
Alligator wood, the timber of a tree of the West Indies (Guarea Swartzii). [ 1913 Webster ]

The pieces of isinglass are colligated in rows. Nicholson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) To bring together by colligation; to sum up in a single proposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had discovered and colligated a multitude of the most wonderful . . . phenomena. Tundall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) That process by which a number of isolated facts are brought under one conception, or summed up in a general proposition, as when Kepler discovered that the various observed positions of the planet Mars were points in an ellipse. “The colligation of facts.” Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Colligation is not always induction, but induction is always colligation. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A disobliging act; an offense. [ Obs. ] Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Release from obligation. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) (a) A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints. (b) A band of connective tissue, or a membranous fold, which supports or retains an organ in place; as, the gastrophrenic ligament, connecting the diaphragm and stomach. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Molecular biology) To concatenate two strands of (nucleic acid, usually DNA), in an end-to-end fashion, using a ligase. [ PJC ]

2. That which binds; bond; connection. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tied with tape, and sealed at each fold and ligation. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that binds; a band or bandage. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Surg.) (a) A thread or string for tying the blood vessels, particularly the arteries, to prevent hemorrhage. (b) A thread or wire used to remove tumors, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness; as, the ligature of a joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Impotence caused by magic or charms. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Print.) A double character, or a type consisting of two or more letters or characters united, as æ, fi, ffl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Golf) In informal and friendly games of golf, a permission to take another stroke without counting the previous stroke against the score, when a stroke was poorly played; a free stroke; as, to take a mulligan. [ PJC ]

The main difference between people seems to be, that one man can come under obligations on which you can rely, -- is obligable; and another is not. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

That's your true plan -- to obligate
The present ministers of state. Churchill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bind or firmly hold to an act; to compel; to constrain; to bind to any act of duty or courtesy by a formal pledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

That they may not incline or be obligated to any vile or lowly occupations. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. under a legal obligation to someone.
Syn. -- indebted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. owing gratitude or recognition to another for help or favors etc. Opposite of unobligated. [ Narrower terms: supposed(predicate), required ]
Syn. -- indebted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

A tender conscience is a stronger obligation than a proson. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for another, or to forbear something; external duties imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being obligated or bound; the state of being indebted for an act of favor or kindness; -- often used with under to indicate being in that state; as, to place others under obligations to one. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Days of obligation. See under Day. --
under obligation,
under an obligation. in a state of obligation{ 4 }. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

As long as the law is obligatory, so long our obedience is due. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

All oligarchies, wherein a few men domineer, do what they list. Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]