passible
liable, subject to (a penalty)
adjective pah-SEEBL Rare
Origin: Latin passibilis, capable of suffering
Usage Note
Passible is a legal term meaning exposed to a penalty: passible d'une amende ('liable to a fine'), passible de prison ('subject to imprisonment'). It is almost exclusively used in legal and administrative French and always followed by de. Do not confuse with paisible (peaceful).
Examples
"Cet acte est passible d'une amende."
Natural Translation
This act is liable to a fine.
Literal Translation
This act is liable of a fine.

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