affable

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin affābilis “that can be spoken to, courteous,” equivalent to af- af- + fā- “speak” (see fate) + -bilis -ble, perhaps via Middle French

synonym study for affable

1. See civil.

OTHER WORDS FROM affable

af·fa·bil·i·ty

[af-uh-bil-i-tee], /ˌæf əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, af·fa·ble·ness, nounaf·fa·bly, adverbun·af·fa·ble, adjectiveun·af·fa·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affable in a sentence

They ranged from yoga teacher-toned to affably soft around the edges.
Naked on a New York Street—for Art|Emily Shire|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its affably glib opening lines set the tone while acknowledging the First-World-problems aspect to the text.
Must-Reads: ‘The Last Nude,’ ‘Arrows of the Night,’ and ‘The Fallback Plan’|Bruce Riedel, Lauren Elkin, Drew Nellins|January 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
My sweet gal,” he said affably touching his cap, “is Capting Laidlaw within?
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
Then he, Big Sid, was over dropping his left hand on that guard's arm, asking affably for the vice-president.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

"I regret very much that I have come too late to know any of my male relatives," he said, affably.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Henry Burns smiled most affably, as though the squire had been his dearest friend and adviser.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
He stands grinning very affably but doesn't understand a word of English.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton

British Dictionary definitions for affable

affable

/ (ˈæfəbəl) /

adjective

showing warmth and friendliness; kindly; mild; benign

easy to converse with; approachable; amicable

Derived forms of affable

affability, nounaffably, adverb

Word Origin for affable

C16: from Latin affābilis easy to talk to, from affārī to talk to, from ad- to + fāri to speak; compare fable, fate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

affable

OTHER WORDS FOR affable

OPPOSITES FOR affable

Origin of affable

synonym study for affable

OTHER WORDS FROM affable

Words related to affable

How to use affable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affable

Derived forms of affable

Word Origin for affable