Lī'a-ble, a.
a. [Fr. lier, Lat. ligare, to bind.]
Sense 1. Obliged in law or equity; responsible; bound; answerable; as, the surety is liable for the debt of his principal.
Sense 2. Subject; obnoxious; exposed;—used with reference to evils; as, liable to imprisonment.
Synonyms—Accountable; responsible; answerable; bound; subject; obnoxious; exposed.—LIABLE, SUBJECT. Liable denotes something external which may befall us; subject refers to evils which arise chiefly from internal necessity, and are likely to do so. Hence the former applies more to what is accidental, the latter to things from which we often or inevitably suffer. Every one, from his temperament, is subject to certain diseases, while he is liable to be attacked by many others.
But what is strength without a double share Of wisdom? Vast, unwieldy, burdensome, Proudly secure, yet liable to fall By weakest subtleties. Milton.
All human things are subject to decay, And when fate summons, monarchs must obey. Dryden.