Affable

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈæf.É™.bÉ™l/

Origin

French affable, Latin affābilis, from affor ("I address"), from ad + for ("speak, talk"). See fable.

Full definition of affable

Adjective

1. Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
• 1912: James Burrill Angell, , chapter ix "Mission To The Ottoman Empire"Furthermore, I may say, that the Sultan was always most affable to me in my interviews with him, even when I had to discuss some missionary questions. In fact, I never saw any traces of the difficulties which Mr. Terrell reported.
2. Mild; benign.
• 1998: Alexia Maria Kosmider, Tricky Tribal Discourse, page 84During more affable weather, the four friends congregate outside, sometimes leaning their hickory chairs against a "catapa" tree...

Synonyms

• (friendly, courteous) accessible, civil, complaisant, courteous, friendly, gracious
• (mild, benign) benign, mild, warm

Derived terms

• affability
• affableness
• affably