English
amiable
Amiable comes from Old French amiable ‘likable’, from Late Latin amīcābilis ‘friendly’, and ultimately from Latin amīcus.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEamīcābilis‘friendly’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400amiable‘likable’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500amyable‘likable’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1521amiable
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEamīcābilis‘friendly’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400amiable‘likable’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500amyable‘likable’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1521amiable
Earliest quotation: c. 1521, John Skelton: “My deyſy delectabyll My prymerose commendabyll My vyolet amyabyll…”
The story
The meaning has been influenced by French amiable and Latin amābilis (‘loveable’) (whence English aimable and amable).
Linked words
through Latin amīcus ‘friend’
enemy, enmity, amity, amigo, inimical, 5 more
through Late Latin amīcābilis ‘friendly’
Today it means
adj Friendly; kind; sweet; gracious.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin amīcus / amiable