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amicable

[am-i-kuh-buh l]
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adjective
  1. characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable: an amicable settlement.
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Origin of amicable

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin amīcābilis, equivalent to amīc(us) friend, friendly + -ābilis -able; cf. amiable
Related formsam·i·ca·bil·i·ty, am·i·ca·ble·ness, nounam·i·ca·bly, adverbun·am·i·ca·bil·i·ty, nounun·am·i·ca·ble, adjectiveun·am·i·ca·ble·ness, nounun·am·i·ca·bly, adverb
Can be confusedamiable amicable

Synonyms

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agreeable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for amicability

Historical Examples

  • Promptly, inexplicably, with amicability, gratefully it was declined.

    Ulysses

    James Joyce

  • An appearance of amicability was assumed, and to the old argument they went, baiting the poor author like a bear tied to a stake.

    Rattlin the Reefer

    Edward Howard

British Dictionary definitions for amicability

amicable

adjective
  1. characterized by friendlinessan amicable agreement
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Derived Formsamicability or amicableness, nounamicably, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Late Latin amīcābilis, from Latin amīcus friend; related to amāre to love
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 amicability

n.

1650s, see amicable + -ity.

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amicable

adj.

early 15c., from Late Latin amicabilis "friendly," a word in Roman law, from Latin amicus "friend," related to amare "to love" (see Amy). Cf. also amiable.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper