Webster's English Dictionary

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liable

Cross references:
  1. responsible           
 
li.a.ble \'li--*-b*l, esp in sense 2b also 'li--b*l\ aj [(assumed) AF, fr. 
   OF lier to bind, fr. L ligare - more at LIG]ATURE 1a: obligated according 
   to law or equity : RESPONSIBLE  1b: subject to appropriation or attachment  
   2a: SUSCEPTIBLE {~ to diseases}  2b: LIKELY, APT {~ to fall} E, SENSITIVE: 
   LIABLE implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because 
   of position, nature, or particular situation; OPEN stresses a lack of 
   barriers preventing incurrence; EXPOSED suggests lack of protection or 
   powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening; 
   SUBJECT implies an openness for any reason to something that must be 
   suffered or undergone; PRONE stresses natural tendency or propensity to 
   incur something; SUSCEPTIBLE implies conditions existing in one's nature or 
   individual constitution that make incurrence probable; SENSITIVE implies a 
   readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli ordinarily 
   too slight to have effect SYN syn OPEN, EXPOSED, SUBJECT, PRONE, SUSCEPTIBL