ˈāmēəbəl also -myəb- adjective
( sometimes amia·bler -blə(r) ; amia·blest -blə̇st)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin amicabilis friendly, from Latin amicus friend + -abilis -able; akin to Latin amare to love — more at amateur
1. archaic : pleasing , lovely , attractive
how amiable are thy tabernacles — Ps 84:1 (Authorized Version)
2.
a. obsolete : amorous
lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife — Shakespeare
b. : generally agreeable : devoid of anything contentious or offensive : good-natured and well-intentioned
he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable — Jane Austen
c. : friendly, sociable, and congenial : civil and urbane : not stiff, cold, haughty, or stubborn
an amiable friend
an amiable gathering
d. : praiseworthy especially as mild, lovable, socially beneficent, or unaggressive
an amiable character
so amiable a virtue as moral honesty — Laurence Sterne
e. : enjoyable : affording ready easy pleasure
a genial comic swagger … very amiable to behold — Hilaire Belloc
Synonyms:
good-natured , obliging , complaisant : amiable may suggest an easy congenial good humor, socially pleasant and unaggressive smoothness, or gracious acquiescence
an amiable neighborhood character
the women … seemed to find a great deal of time for amiable empty gabbling — Edna Ferber
their manners were more engaging, their tempers more amiable — T.B.Macaulay
he considered a passive attitude in love more feminine and preferred an amiable softness to a tragic intensity — Ellen Glasgow
good-natured suggests a good-humored willingness to help or cooperate, sometimes an undue compliance
the crowd was good-natured and civil … all seemed desirous to welcome me with every sign of pleasure — C.B.Nordhoff & J.N.Hall
“If you're sick of the job, I'll take her off your hands”, said the good-natured Fred — Anthony Trollope
when he is good-natured … he will often pay her more than he is legally obliged to — G.B.Shaw
obliging suggests ready accommodation of others' wishes, usually with civility or friendliness
Dr. Armstrong, whose name the obliging young lady at the office allowed me to read upon the counterfoil of Staunton's urgent message — A. Conan Doyle
he always had the courtesy to answer me, for he was a most obliging fellow — Agnes N. Keith
complaisant , less common than the others, suggests courteous amiability and willingness to accede, sometimes because of a weak lack of resistance
even if Mrs. Smith had been complaisant, Andrew's plan could not have been carried out — Margaret Deland
her importunity prevailed with me and I am extremely glad I was so complaisant — Mary W. Montagu