Main Entry:

ami·a·ble

Pronunciation:

\ˈā-mē-ə-bəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin amicabilis friendly, from Latin amicus friend; akin to Latin amare to love

Date:

14th century

1archaic : pleasing, admirable2 a: generally agreeable <an amiable comedy> b: being friendly, sociable, and congenial

— ami·a·bil·i·ty \ˌā-mē-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— ami·a·ble·ness \ˈā-mē-ə-bəl-nəs\ noun

— ami·a·bly \-blē\ adverb

synonyms amiable, good-natured, obliging, complaisant mean having the desire or disposition to please. amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with <an amiable teacher not easily annoyed>. good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon <a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in>. obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful <our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room>. complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness <was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair>.