- liable
- 1542, "bound or obliged by law," from Anglo-Fr. *liable, from O.Fr. lier "to bind," from L. ligare "to bind, to tie" (see ligament). General sense of "exposed to" (something undesirable) is from 1593. Incorrect use for "likely" is attested from 1886. Liability "condition of being liable" is from 1794; meaning "thing for which one is liable" is first attested 1842.