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Where does the word "amiable" come from? It comes from Latin amare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "amiable" come from? It comes from Latin amare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).
Amiable’s story begins in Latin: amare meant “to love.” The root of 'amorous' and 'amateur'. Within Latin, it grew into amicabilis by ancient. Friendly, lovable, from amare. From there it passed into Old French as amiable by medieval. Carried into French for someone pleasant and friendly. It reached English by 1300s as amiable. Settled as the English word for someone friendly and pleasant in manner. Today, amiable means having a friendly and pleasant manner.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient amare "to love", the root of 'amorous' and 'amateur'.
- Stage 2 · Latin · ancient amicabilis "friendly, lovable", friendly, lovable, from amare.
- Stage 3 · Old French · medieval amiable "pleasant and friendly", carried into French for someone pleasant and friendly.
- Stage 4 · English · 1300s amiable "friendly and pleasant in manner", settled as the English word for someone friendly and pleasant in manner.