liable

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant
  2. adjective subject to legal action
  3. adjective (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with

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)).

In classic literature

Synonyms

apt

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