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/
  • (file)

Adjective

amiable (comparative more amiable, superlative most amiable)

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

  • amiable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
  • amiable in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • amiable at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams


French

Etymology

Inherited from Late Latin amīcābilis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.mjabl/

Adjective

amiable (plural amiables)

  1. amiable

Derived terms

Further reading


Old French

Adjective

amiable m (oblique and nominative feminine singular amiable)

  1. likable; amiable

Descendants

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