Question

He was not insolent to his benefactor, he was simply insensible; though knowing perfectly the hold he had on this heart, and conscious he had only to speak and all the house would be obliged to bend to his wishes. In this sentence, what does the word obliged mean?

Answer 1

In this case the following words can be used as synonyms for the sentence:

Coerced, impelled, forced

Step-by-step explanation:

For this case all the words above can mean the same thing. The house (people) would bend to his wishes not by using the direct force, but the power conferred on him it makes everyone to bed to his wishes.