I. -lē, -li adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English frendly, from Old English frēondlic, from frēond friend + -lic -ly — more at friend
1. : of, relating to, befitting, or typical of a friend, of friends, or of friendship: as
a. : showing or marked by the disposition or attitude of one that is or wishes to be a friend : manifesting or disposed to goodwill, kindly interest, pleasant warmth, or familiar sociability
friendly neighbors
a friendly , approachable person — C.H.Voss
wished to be friendly to even the worst members of the club
: prone to favor, support, or aid
a teacher not too friendly toward independent students
an administration friendly to experimentation
a friendly correspondence with a former rival
b. : not hostile or antagonistic
a friendly state
friendly Indians
specifically : belonging to one's own country's forces or those of an ally
friendly planes
in friendly territory
an unduly heavy price in friendly casualties — New York Times
fell victim to a friendly destroyer which … would not listen to her frantic signals — E.L.Beach
c.
(1) : warm and comforting or cheerful
sitting in the friendly glow of the fire
came out of a drab side street into the friendly lights of the theater district
(2) : having qualities that attract and none that are forbidding in any way
friendly and charming hills — Mark Saxton
(3) : conducing to amicable feeling and goodwill
the friendly rooms of the club
2. : serving a beneficial or helpful purpose : favorable , propitious
a friendly breeze finally drove the boat into harbor
official attitudes that are friendly to private investors — U.S. News & World Report
3. : marked by a lack of fierce zeal for victory : engaged in for sport or recreation rather than for stakes or prizes : not bitterly, savagely, or hotly contested
a friendly game of tennis
a friendly game of poker with a maximum raise of two cents
4. usually capitalized : of or relating to the Friends
Synonyms: see amicable
II. adverb
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English frendly, from Old English frēondlice, from frēondlic, adjective
: in a friendly manner : amicably , friendlily
he was … friendly disposed toward the British — W.G.Harmon
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: friendly (I)
: one that is friendly ; especially : a native who is friendly to settlers or invaders
but bands began to form and the cry rose, “Kill the whites! Kill the friendlies! ” — Meridel Le Sueur
IV. adjective
1. : easy especially for a nonspecialist to use or understand
the friendliest possible introduction to computers — Dan Watt
— often used in combination
reader- friendly
2. : compatible 2a — often used in combination
a computer- friendly device