Liable

Liable

Adjective · /ˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/

Definition

Legally responsible for something; responsible under law for paying compensation or being punished; likely to do or to experience something (liable to happen, liable to rain); subject or susceptible to something.

Origin

From Old French lier (to bind) + -able (capable of, subject to), from Latin ligare (to bind). The same root as liability. Liable in English has been used since the 15th century, first in the sense of legally bound, then extending to the general sense of likely or susceptible.