lig-

1. A close association of nations, people, or other groups who agree to cooperate, and which are formed to advance common interests or causes.
2. A connection based on kinship, marriage, or common interest; a bond or tie.
3. A similarity in nature or type; an affinity.
4. The act of becoming allied or the condition of being allied.
5. Etymology: from Old French aliance, from alier, "to combine, to unite".

Originally it referred to "a union by marriage".

1. To tie together; to unite by some tie.
2. To attach; to bind.

1. A rule relating to the solution of questions concerning the compounding or mixing of different ingredients, or ingredients of different qualities or values.
2. The act of tying together or attaching by some bond, or the state of being attached.

1. A substance that is a mixture of two or more metals, or of a metal with a nonmetallic material.
2. Something that detracts from the value or quality of the thing it is added to or mixed with.
3. Any mixture, amalgam, or compound of different materials.
4. Etymology: from Anglo-French alai, from Old French aleier, "mix with a baser metal", from Latin alligare; a compound of ad-, "to" + ligare, "to bind".

1. An associate, partner, comrade, friend, confederate, affiliate or collaborator: The United States was an ally of great Britain in two world wars.
2. To join with, unite, band together: Many of the townspeople allied themselves in an effort to lower their taxes.
3. Etymology: from Old French alier, "combine, unite"; from a differentiated stem of aleier (source of alloy); from Latin alligare, "to bind to".

1. To be unwilling to help somebody.
2. To refuse or to neglect to act contrary to the desire or convenience of; to fail to accommodate.

1. Characterized by refusal or neglection to oblige.
2. A reference to an action contrary to a desire or convenience of; failing to accommodate.

1. An iron alloy, containing a large proportion of one or more other elements, which is added to molten metal during iron and steel production to give the required composition.
2. Any of various alloys of iron and one or more other elements; such as, manganese or silicon, used as a raw material in the production of steel.

1. An association of nations, states, organizations, or businesses with common interests or goals.
2. An association of sports clubs or teams that compete with each other.
3. Etymology: "alliance", from 1452, ligg, from Middle French ligue, "confederacy, league"; from Italian lega, from legare, "to tie, to bind"; from Latin ligare, "to bind".

Originally it referred to "among nations", subsequently it was extended to political associations (1846) and sports associations (1879).

Translation: "A doubtful law does not oblige one to follow it."

1. A legal responsibility for something, especially for costs or damages: After the accident, Tom was cleared of any liabilities that had occurred.
2. Something for which a person is responsible, for example a financial obligation: It took many years for Mr. and Mrs. Timmons to pay off the liabilities they had regarding the debts to the bank that helped out with financing the costs of the house they had bought.
3. That which holds a person back or causes trouble: Because Timmy couldn't keep a secret, he was a liability to the boys' club and their undercover activities!

Becky was quite shy and this liability caused her difficulties in making friends.
4. Someone who is a burden, causes a social embarrassment. or who prevents an undefeated outcome: The members of the school football team, and even the coach, saw Doug as being a liability to the success of their games with other schools. or.
5. The likelihood or probability of something happening: The liability of many accidents happening is a real issue because of a big snow storm coming up and many cars don't have their winter tires on yet.

1. A reference to being legally obligated or responsible: Mr. Smith was liable for paying taxes on the income he received from his investment.
2. Related to being at risk of or subject to experiencing or suffering something unpleasant: Because of his family's health history, Brian is liable of having dementia when he is old.
3. Descriptive of being used as an unfavorable outcome: In such weather, transportation is liable to be delayed.
4. Etymology: "bound or obliged by law", from Anglo-French liable, from Old French lier, "to bind"; from Latin ligare, "to bind, to tie".

1. The exchange of information or the planning of joint efforts by two or more people or groups; often of military personnel.
2. Someone who coordinates communication between individuals or groups.
3. Etymology: from French liaison, "a union, a binding together"; from Late Latin ligationem, ligatio, "a binding"; from Latin ligatus and ligare, "to bind".

1. The legal right to keep or to sell somebody else's property as security for a debt.
2. An alternative term for "spleen" or "splen"; a large dark-red oval organ on the left side of the body between the stomach and the diaphragm which produces cells involved in immune responses.
3. Etymology: "right to hold property of another until debt is paid", 1531, from Middle French lien, from Latin ligamen, "bond"; from ligare, "to bind, to tie".

1. A sheet or band of tough, fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages at a joint or supporting an organ.
2. A unifying or connecting tie or bond.