amable

English

Etymology

From Middle English amable, amabully, amebill, partly from Middle French amable (modern aimable) and partly from its etymon, Latin amābilis.^[1] Doublet of aimable (“likeable”).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

amable (comparative more amable, superlative most amable)

(obsolete) Friendly, pleasant.
- , S Bernard, translated by Thomas Paynell, “Of fornication the .xxiij. chap.”, in A Compẽdius & a Moche Fruytefull Treatyse of Well Liuynge, Cõtaynyng the Hole Sũme and Effect of Al Vertue, London: Thomas Petyt, folios lxxxix, verso – xc, recto; republished in Early English Books Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Text Creation Partnership, p. 2011:
  What vtilite is ther, in the carnall bewtye of man? Is not man as drye as hay? And dothe * not his goodly beutye vanyshe awaye, as dothe the shadowe? And when death cōmeth, I pray you tell me, what goodlynesse shall remayne in the bodie? whē ye shall se his body swollē, and turned into all fylthy stynche, and sauer, shall ye not then stop your noose from such vnsauery sauer? And from suche a styn∣kynge bodye? Tell me I praye you where shall his goodly and his amable face be then?
- 1748 August 18, C Lucas, To the Free Citizens, and Free-Holders, of the City of Dublin, Dublin: James Kelburn, , page 7:
  But I muſt ſay, that however amable theſe Men, or any of them, may, poſſibly, appear, in their private Capacities, yet, as Aldermen, they are profeſſed Slaves, to the Miniſtry, and Tyrants, to the CITIZENS.
- 1907, Frank Frankfort Moore, chapter II, in The Messenger, London: Hodder and Stoughton, page 12:
  “That shows that parson’s heart be in the right place,” nodded the farmer. “He gives us all to understand at a glance that he reads the words ’cause they are set down for him in the solemn Prayer-book, and hopes that there’s none among his hearers who will hold him responsible as a man for their ungentility.” / “True, sir, true; parson’s an amable gentleman, always ’cepting when the cock he has hatched from the noblest game strain fails him in the first main,” said the blacksmith.
- 1920, Richard Barry, “The Desperado’s Story”, in Fruit of the Desert, Garden City, N.Y., London: Doubleday, Page & Company, page 96:
  Bimeby they chucked me in here where I learns from this poor gang o’ red pals that the amable intention is to let me rot on quarter rations.