term:

Obligate

obligate vt

-gat·ed
-gat·ing
1 : to bind legally or morally [was obligated to pay child support]
2 : to commit (as funds or property) to meet or provide security for an obligation
oblig·a·to·ry [ə-bli-gə-tōr-ē]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.