adj.
Pronunciation: ' ā -m ē - ə -b ə l
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
1 archaic : PLEASING , ADMIRABLE
2 a : generally agreeable <an amiable comedy> b : being friendly, sociable, and congenial
– ami · a · bil · i · ty \ ˌ ā -m ē - ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– ami · a · ble · ness \ ' ā -m ē - ə -b ə l-n ə s \ noun
– ami · a · bly \ -bl ē \ 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>.