Labile
/ˈleɪ.baɪl/noun
Likely to change, break down, or react readily; unstable or easily altered.
Did you know?In chemistry, a labile compound can rapidly exchange parts with its surroundings, preserving the word’s original image of something liable to slip or shift.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lebh-
“To hang loosely, droop, or become slack; the reconstructed root associated with slipping.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lābī
“To slip, slide, fall, or glide away.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lābilis
“Prone to slip or fall; unstable and liable to change.”
17th Century
English
labile
“Capable of undergoing change or decomposition.”
Modern English
English
labile
“Unstable, readily altered, or chemically reactive.”