| English Dictionary |
AMIABLE
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| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does amiable mean?
• AMIABLE (adjective)
The adjective AMIABLE has 2 senses:
1. disposed to please
2. diffusing warmth and friendliness
Familiarity information: AMIABLE used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Disposed to please
Synonyms:
amiable; good-humored; good-humoured
Context example:
an amiable villain with a cocky sidelong grin
Similar:
good-natured (having an easygoing and cheerful disposition)
Derivation:
amiability (a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to))
amiability (a cheerful and agreeable mood)
amiableness (a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Diffusing warmth and friendliness
Synonyms:
affable; amiable; cordial; genial
Context example:
a genial host
Similar:
friendly (characteristic of or befitting a friend)
Derivation:
amiability (a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to))
amiability (a cheerful and agreeable mood)
amity (a state of friendship and cordiality)
Context examples
I was glad to infer, from these slight premises, that Mr. Micawber was doing well; and consequently was much surprised to receive, about this time, the following letter from his amiable wife.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Miss Campbell always was absolutely plain—but extremely elegant and amiable.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
She never appeared more amiable than in her behaviour to you last night.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The natives were Cucama Indians, an amiable but degraded race, with mental powers hardly superior to the average Londoner.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Finding the child more docile and amiable than her sister, the old lady felt it her duty to try and counteract, as far as possible, the bad effects of home freedom and indulgence.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Your sister is an amiable creature; but yours is the character of decision and firmness, I see.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
She had taken an amiable caprice to me.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
My dear Miss Morland, said Henry, in this amiable solicitude for your brother's comfort, may you not be a little mistaken?
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home." (Aboriginal Australian proverbs)
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"Bathe her and then look at her." (Egyptian proverb)