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affable

 - 3 dictionary results

af⋅fa⋅ble

  [af-uh-buhl]
Use affable in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite: an affable and courteous gentleman.
2. showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant: an affable smile.
Origin:
1530–40; < L affābilis that can be spoken to, courteous, equiv. to af- af- + fā- speak (see fate ) + -bilis -ble, perh. via MF

Related forms:
af⋅fa⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, af⋅fa⋅ble⋅ness, noun
af⋅fa⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See civil.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To affable
af·fa·ble   (āf'ə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Easy and pleasant to speak to; approachable.

  2. Gentle and gracious: an affable smile.


[Middle English affabil, from Old French affable, from Latin affābilis, from affārī, to speak to : ad-, ad- + fārī, to speak; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.]
af'fa·bil'i·ty n., af'fa·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

affable 
c.1475 (implied in affability), 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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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