personable

• personible (obsolete)
• parsonable (obsolete)

From Middle English personable, personabil, equivalent to person +‎ -able. Compare Medieval Latin personabilis (“personal”), found in a late 13th century British source. The Middle French personable (“remarkable, important”) does not appear until 1528.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɜː(ɹ)sənəbəl/

• Audio (UK):

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personable (comparative more personable, superlative most personable)

1. (of a person) Having a pleasing appearance; attractive; handsome.
   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 19, in The Fortunes of Nigel:

     I admit him a personable man, for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous and agreeable.

   • 1908, E. M. Forster, chapter 12, in A Room With a View:

     Barefoot, bare-chested, radiant and personable against the shadowy woods, he called: "Hullo, Miss Honeychurch! Hullo!"

2. (of a person) Having a pleasant manner; friendly; amiable.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. , London: [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 5:

     Wise, warlike, personable, curteous, and kind.

   • 1919, Joseph A. Altsheler, chapter 5, in The Sun Of Quebec:

     I'm bound to admit that you're a personable young rascal, with the best manners I've met in a long time.

   • 2009 October 5, Randy James, “2-Min. Bio: Stephanie Birkitt: Letterman's Lover?”, in Time:

     Aside from being incredibly funny and personable he is generous, kind and is great fun to play catch with.

3. (law, obsolete) Enabled to maintain pleas in court.
   • 15th century, Petitions of the Commons

     The Queen be by that name personable to plead

   • 1607, John Cowell), The Interpreter:

     The demaundant was iudged personable to maintaine this action

• (having a pleasing appearance or manner): affable