musical instruction, used of accompaniments (especially by a single instrument, to a vocal piece), "so important that it cannot be omitted," 1724, from Italian obbligato, literally "obligated," from Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare "to bind" (see oblige). As a noun, "an accompaniment of independent importance," by 1817.
oath
oatmeal
ob-
Obadiah
obambulation
obbligato
obduracy
obdurate
obduration
obeah
obedience