Word of the Day Archive
Friday October 1, 1999
affable \AF-uh-buhl\
, adjective:
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn, melancholy and ugly.
-- Susana Rotker (Editor), The Memoirs of Fray Servando Teresa De Mier
Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually was affable and relaxed.
-- Paul C. Nagel, John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon; he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
-- "Presley Treats Fans to His Best", New York Times, July 21, 1975
Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, "to speak to," from ad-, "to" + fari, "to speak."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for affable
