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Definition of amiable
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amiable was our Word of the Day on 05/20/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of amiable in a Sentence
… an amiable man, a gray-headed, fiftyish, good old boy with a long career in media and public relations, and a hellish taste for margaritas … —Denis Johnson, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2000
These strained plot contortions aren't really necessary: the funny, amiable heart of the movie is in the scenes of these tough old duffers scamming their way through the training program. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2000
The book pivots around Molly Bonner, an amiable, 40-ish woman whose second husband has just died in a helicopter accident, leaving her grief-struck and rich. —Tad Friend, Vogue, March 1997
Gianni Versace is an amiable smoothy with a light touch and a corona of gray hair. —Marie Brenner, Vanity Fair, January 1997
Everyone knew him as an amiable fellow.
She had an amiable conversation with her friend.
Recent Examples of amiable from the Web
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On the receiving end, Mitch has a great appreciation for how his father, as well as his mother, Jeanne, helped mold him into the star college player and amiable, loyal person who arrived at Halas Hall this spring.
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Jarrius Robertson, the amiable 15-year-old New Orleans Saints superfan, will soon receive one of the highest honors in sports.
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Durant has flashed a prickly side in public in recent years, but those moments serve as a shield, hiding his amiable personality, his desire to blend in.
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Thomas Carnegie, considered the better-looking and more amiable younger brother of the industrialist Andrew Carnegie, was one of his great-great-grandfathers.
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But the predictable romantic dramas are not what will draw you to this amiable new musical, which Seven Angels Theatre is giving a New England premiere through June 11.
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As the cast’s other straight characters, Wheeler is empathetic as her Jo is shocked not by what Casey is doing but by his deliberate deception, and Corey makes Eddie an amiable host.
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The French official described an amiable rapport that the two leaders have swiftly struck.
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While the ensemble sports some capable singing voices, the show lacks the kind of outsized musical-comedy personalities needed to coax howls from amiable mirth.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amiable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Roots of amiable Goes Back to Love
Amiable derives from the Late Latin adjective amicabilis, meaning "friendly," which in turn comes from the Latin word for "friend" and can ultimately be traced back to amare, meaning "to love." When amiable was adopted into English in the 14th century, it meant "pleasing" or "admirable," but that sense is now obsolete. The current, familiar senses of "generally agreeable" ("an amiable movie") and "friendly and sociable" came centuries later. Amare has also given English speakers such words as amative and amorous (both meaning "strongly moved by love"), amour ("a usually illicit love affair"), and even amateur (which originally meant "admirer").
Origin and Etymology of amiable
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin amicabilis friendly, from Latin amicus friend; akin to Latin amare to love
Synonym Discussion of amiable
AMIABLE Defined for English Language Learners
AMIABLE Defined for Kids
amiable
playDefinition of amiable for Students
: having a friendly and pleasant manner
amiably
\-blē\ adverb She greeted us amiably.Learn More about amiable
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for amiable Spanish Central: Translation of amiable Nglish: Translation of amiable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of amiable for Arabic speakers
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