LIABLE

liable, apt(p)

(adjective) at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant; “he is apt to lose”; “she is liable to forget”

liable

(adjective) held legally responsible; “men between the ages of 18 and 35 were liable for military service”

liable

(adjective) subject to legal action; “liable to criminal charges”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

liable (comparative more liable, superlative most liable)

bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.

subject; susceptible.

exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.

(as predicate, with "to" and an infinitive) likely.

Anagrams

• Belial, Biella, alible, labile

Source: Wiktionary


Li"a*ble, a. Etym: [From F. lier to bind, L. ligare. Cf. Ally, v. t., Ligature.]

1. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable; as, the surety is liable for the debt of his principal.

2. Exposed to a certain contingency or casualty, more or less probable; -- with to and an infinitive or noun; as, liable to slip; liable to accident.

Syn.

– Accountable; responsible; answerable; bound; subject; obnoxious; exposed.

– Liable, Subject. Liable refers to a future possible or probable happening which may not actually occur; as, horses are liable to slip; even the sagacious are liable to make mistakes. Subject refers to any actual state or condition belonging to the nature or circumstances of the person or thing spoken of, or to that which often befalls one. One whose father was subject to attacks of the gout is himself liable to have that disease. Men are constantly subject to the law, but liable to suffer by its infraction. Proudly secure, yet liable to fall. Milton. All human things are subject to decay. Dryden.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by Alcaldía Municipal de Chinchiná (Colombia) at Parque de Bolívar, Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.

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