different between passible vs liable

English

Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French passible, from Late Latin passibilis.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?pas?b?l/

Adjective

passible (not comparable)

1. (chiefly theology) Able to suffer, or feel pain. [from 14th c.]
2. Able to feel emotion.
3. Capable of suffering injury or detriment.
4. Liable to experience change or decay. [14th–17th c.]

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Passible”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VII (O–P), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 531, column 3.
• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “passible”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa.sibl/

Adjective

passible (plural passibles)

1. punishable (appropriate for punishment)

See also

• impassible

Further reading

• “passible” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Old French

Etymology

From Late Latin passibilis.

Adjective

passible m (oblique and nominative feminine singular passiblee)

1. passible (able to suffer)

Descendants

• ? English: passible
• French: passible

English

Etymology

From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligare (“to bind, to tie”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?la???b?l/, [?la???b??], [?la???b??]
• Rhymes: -a??b?l

Adjective

liable (comparative more liable, superlative most liable)

1. bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.

   The surety is liable for the debt of his principal.

   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 34.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

     He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family.

     The passion for philosophy, like that for religion, seems liable to this inconvenience

2. subject; susceptible.
3. exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.
4. (as predicate, with "to" and an infinitive) likely.

   Someone is liable to slip on your icy sidewalk.

Related terms

• liability
• reliable

Translations

Anagrams

• Belial, Biella, alible, labile