liable: [15] Today’s main meaning of liable, ‘likely to’, is a comparatively recent development. Its primary sense is ‘legally bound or obliged’ (as in ‘liable for someone else’s debts’), which goes right back to the word’s ultimate source, Latin ligāre ‘tie’. Its Old French descendant lier is assumed to have give rise to an Anglo-Norman derivative *liable, literally ‘bindable’, which English took over.
Other English words that come ultimately from ligāre include ally, liaison [17], lien [16] (etymologically a ‘bond’), ligament [14], ligature [14], oblige, religion, and rely. => ally, liaison, lien, ligament, ligature, oblige, religion, rely
liable (adj.)
mid-15c., "bound or obliged by law," probably from Anglo-French *liable, from Old French lier "to bind, tie up, fasten, tether; bind by obligation," from Latin ligare "to bind, to tie" (see ligament). With -able. General sense of "exposed to" (something undesirable) is from 1590s. Incorrect use for "likely" is attested by 1886.
雙語例句
1. Offenders will be liable to a seven-year prison term.
違犯者可判處7年監禁。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Educational practice is liable to sudden swings and changes.
教學實踐中經常會出現突然的變化與改革。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Such a figure is liable to be attacked as a blasphemer.
這樣的人很容易被人抨擊為褻瀆神明。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Tenants remain liable if they pass on their lease.
如果房客將房子轉租，他們仍承擔責任。
來自柯林斯例句
5. You know you are liable to be cross-examined mercilessly about the assault.