Affability

adjective

pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite: an affable and courteous gentleman.

showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant: an affable smile.

Origin:
1530–40; < Latin affābilis that can be spoken to, courteous, equivalent to af- af- + fā- speak (see fate) + -bilis -ble, perhaps via Middle French

Related forms

af·fa·bil·i·ty, af·fa·ble·ness, noun

af·fa·bly, adverb

un·af·fa·ble, adjective

un·af·fa·ble·ness, noun

un·af·fa·b·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. See civil.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Link To affability

Relevant Questions

What Is Affable?

00:10

Affability is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

affable (ˈæfəb^əl)

—*adj*
1.	showing warmth and friendliness; kindly; mild; benign
2.	easy to converse with; approachable; amicable

[C16: from Latin affābilis easy to talk to, from affārī to talk to, from ad- to + fāri to speak; compare fable, fate]

affa'bility

—n

'affably

—*adv*

affable (ˈæfəb^əl)

—*adj*
1.	showing warmth and friendliness; kindly; mild; benign
2.	easy to converse with; approachable; amicable

[C16: from Latin affābilis easy to talk to, from affārī to talk to, from ad- to + fāri to speak; compare fable, fate]

affa'bility

—n

'affably

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

affable

late 15c., from O.Fr., from L. affabilis "kind, friendly," lit. "he who can be (easily) spoken to," from affari "to speak to," from ad- "to" + fari "to speak" (see fame).

affability

late 15c., from Fr. affabilité (14c.), noun of action from affable (see affable).

Example sentences

His affability charmed every one: he seemed to know no pleasure equal to that of serving his neighbour.

Those who watched his career are familiar with his aw-shucks charisma and boyish affability.

She's smiling when she says it, a half smile, some grudges mixed in with this late-term affability.

What they strive to project is not so much affability as respect.

Want affability ad-free? Click here!

Related Words

affable asperity

backslap civility

Matching Quote

"Lady Hodmarsh and the duchess immediately assumed the clinging affability that persons of rank assume with their inferiors in order to show them that they are not in the least conscious of any difference in station between them."

-W. Somerset Maugham