English
amable
Amable comes from Latin amābilis ‘lovable, worthy of love’, and goes back to amō.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamābilis‘lovable, worthy of love’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600amable
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1748same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamābilis‘lovable, worthy of love’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600amable
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1748same form
Earliest quotation: 1748, Charles Lucas, To the Free Citizens: “But I muſt ſay, that however amable theſe Men,…”
Linked words
through Latin amō ‘to love’
enemy, enmity, amour, amity, amenity, amicable, inimical, 19 more
Today it means
adj Friendly, pleasant.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin amō / amable