liable

adj

Etymology: From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligō, ligāre (“to bind, to tie”). Compare typologically Russian обя́занный (objázannyj), обяза́тельный (objazátelʹnyj) (akin to вяза́ть (vjazátʹ)).

1. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.

   “The surety is liable for the debt of his principal.”

   “He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family. The passion for philosophy, like that for religion, seems liable to this inconvenience”

2. Subject; susceptible; prone.

   “This crime is liable to imprisonment for life.”

   “A man liable to heart disease.”

3. Exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.

   “Electronic devices are liable to malfunction when exposed to extreme heat.”

4. Likely.

   “Someone is liable to slip on your icy sidewalk.”