amiable
English
WOTD – 6 December 2011
Etymology
Middle English amyable, from Old French amiable, from Late Latin amīcābilis (“friendly”), from Latin amīcus (“friend”), from amō (“I love”). The meaning has been influenced by French aimable, Latin amābilis (“loveable”). Compare with amicable, amorous, amability.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈeɪ.mi.ə.bəl/, /ˈæ.mi.ə.bəl/
Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective
amiable (comparative more amiable, superlative most amiable)
- Friendly; kind; sweet; gracious
- an amiable temper
- amiable ideas
- 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:
- A short time afterward at the opera Gerald dragged him into a parterre to say something amiable to one of the amiable débutante Craig girls—and Selwyn found himself again facing Alixe.
- Of a pleasant and likeable nature; kind-hearted; easy to like
- an amiable person
- 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:
- A short time afterward at the opera Gerald dragged him into a parterre to say something amiable to one of the amiable débutante Craig girls—and Selwyn found himself again facing Alixe.
Usage notes
- See amicable.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
friendly as an amiable temper or mood
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possessing sweetness of disposition
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Further reading
French
Etymology
Inherited from Late Latin amīcābilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a.mjabl/
Derived terms
Further reading
- “amiable” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Old French
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