'unobliged' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'obliged' from Latin 'obligare', where 'ob-' meant 'toward' and 'ligare' meant 'to bind'.

'obligare' transformed into the Old French word 'obliger', and eventually became the modern English word 'oblige', with 'un-' added to form 'unobliged'.

Initially, it meant 'not bound by duty', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.