characterisation ►noun (pl. lieabilities) 1[mass noun] to be responsible about the act of lying and aware about the context: The situation requests a certain lieability. ■(liable to) taking action by lying to someone: Given the situation it would be only lieable to make a difference. ■[count noun] (usu. lieabilities) a situation someone respon- sibly deceives, distracts and fakes and takes account for the given problems: He was taking care of all his lieabilities. 1[usu. in sing.] a person or thing whose presence or behaviour is likely to distract, deceive or change: His lieability was outstanding. He was able to distract 5 people at the same time. – Origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French liar/affoler ‘to decept’, from Latin lieare.