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amiable

[ey-mee-uh-buhl]
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adjective
  1. having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable: an amiable disposition.
  2. friendly; sociable: an amiable greeting; an amiable gathering.
  3. agreeable; willing to accept the wishes, decisions, or suggestions of another or others.
  4. Obsolete. lovable or lovely.
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Origin of amiable

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin amīcābilis amicable
Related formsa·mi·a·bil·i·ty, a·mi·a·ble·ness, nouna·mi·a·bly, adverbqua·si-a·mi·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-a·mi·a·bly, adverbun·a·mi·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·mi·a·ble·ness, nounun·a·mi·a·bly, adverb
Can be confusedamiable amicable

Synonyms

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1. gracious. 2. amicable.

Antonyms

1. rude. 2. unfriendly, hostile.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

genialityamenitycongenialitycordialityagreeablenesswarmthaffabilitypleasantnesssociabilityfriendlinessbonhomie

Examples from the Web for amiability

Historical Examples

  • "Sure, I understand," Garson replied, with an amiability equal to the Inspector's own.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • He is a remarkable cat, noted particularly for his intelligence and amiability.

    Concerning Cats

    Helen M. Winslow

  • She would run herself into amiability and then stop, but not before.

    The Night Riders

    Ridgwell Cullum

  • This declaration of Mr. Garth's veracity was not conducive to amiability.

  • Mr. Caryll, the picture of amiability, smiled between spoonfuls.

    The Lion's Skin

    Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for amiability

amiable

adjective
  1. having or displaying a pleasant or agreeable nature; friendly
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Derived Formsamiability or amiableness, nounamiably, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin amīcābilis amicable
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

Word Origin and History for amiability

n.

1807; see amiable + -ity. Amiableness is recorded from 1530s.

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amiable

adj.

mid-14c., from Old French amiable, from Late Latin amicabilis "friendly," from amicus "friend," related to amare "to love" (see Amy). The form confused in Old French with amable "lovable," from Latin amare. Reborrowed later in proper Latin form as amicable.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper