cordial

[kawr-juhl or, esp. British, -dee-uhl]

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adjective

courteous and gracious; friendly; warm: a cordial reception.
invigorating the heart; stimulating.
sincere; heartfelt: a cordial dislike.

Archaic. of or relating to the heart.

noun

a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor; liqueur.
a stimulating medicine.
anything that invigorates or exhilarates.

Origin of cordial

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin cordiālis, equivalent to Latin cordi- (stem of cor) heart + -ālis -al¹

Related formscor·dial·ly, adverbcor·dial·ness, nounpre·cor·dial, adjectivequa·si-cor·dial, adjectivequa·si-cor·dial·ly, adverbsu·per·cor·dial, adjectivesu·per·cor·dial·ly, adverbsu·per·cor·dial·ness, nounun·cor·dial, adjectiveun·cor·dial·ly, adverbun·cor·dial·ness, noun

Synonyms for cordial

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1. affectionate, genial. 2. cheering.

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

Related Words for cordially

warmly, kindly, hospitably

Examples from the Web for cordially

Contemporary Examples of cordially

Abramoff clearly has come to cordially despise his old associate Ralph Reed—and repeats story after story intended to damage him.
David’s Book Club: ‘Capitol Punishment’
David Frum
March 23, 2012

Historical Examples of cordially

The three gentlemen parted most cordially from him after he had paid the check.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
For her sake her beloved sister should be cordially welcomed.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
"I'm glad to see you, Mr. Watts," said the journalist, cordially.
The Gentleman From Indiana
Booth Tarkington
It scarcely need be said, that this invitation was most cordially accepted.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
In all her labors she was cordially seconded and efficiently aided by her husband.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin

British Dictionary definitions for cordially

cordial

adjective

warm and friendlya cordial greeting
giving heart; stimulating

noun

a drink with a fruit base, usually sold in concentrated form and diluted with water before being drunklime cordial
another word for liqueur

Derived Formscordially, adverbcordialness, noun

Word Origin for cordial

C14: from Medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cor heart

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 cordially

adv.

late 15c., "by heart," from cordial + -ly (2). Meaning "heartily" is from 1530s; weakened sense of "with friendliness" is attested by 1781.

cordial

adj.

late 14c., "of the heart," from Middle French cordial, from Medieval Latin cordialis "of or for the heart," from Latin cor (genitive cordis) "heart" (see heart). Meaning "heartfelt, from the heart" is mid-15c. The noun is late 14c., originally "medicine, food, or drink that stimulates the heart." Related: Cordiality.