chargeable

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   required to be paid for or capable of being assigned to an account

   Meals taken outside the conference are not chargeable to the company.

2. 2
   adj

   liable to an accusation, legal charge, blame, or responsibility

   The prosecutor argued that the conduct was chargeable as fraud.

3. 3
   adj

   liable to become a financial burden on a parish or other public authority, in historical use

   Under the old settlement law, a newcomer could be removed after becoming chargeable to the parish.

From charge + -able. Because charge can mean a cost, an accusation, a burden, or an assigned responsibility, chargeable developed corresponding financial, legal, and historical poor-law senses.

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