liable

EnglishEdit

From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligare (“to bind, to tie”).

liable (comparative more liable, superlative most liable)

bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.
The surety is liable for the debt of his principal.
- 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 34.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
  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
subject; susceptible.
This crime is liable to imprisonment for life.

A man liable to heart disease.
- 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] ‎^[1], London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 211:
  ☞ This word [earth] is liable to a coarſe vulgar pronunciation, as if written Urth; […]
exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.
(as predicate, with "to" and an infinitive) likely.
Someone is liable to slip on your icy sidewalk.

responsible

subject; susceptible.

Bulgarian: подлежащ (bg) (podležašt)
Italian: punibile (it), passibile (it) (of an act); soggetto (it) (of a person, an animal, an object, ...)
Maori: eke

exposed to a certain contingency

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