amicable

Where does the word "amicable" come from? It comes from Latin amare, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).

Amicable’s story begins in Latin: amare meant “to love.” To love, giving rise to amicus (friend). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as amicabilis. Friendly, from amicus (friend, from amare). It reached English by 1500s as amicable. Settled as the English word for something done in a friendly, cooperative way. Today, amicable means done in a friendly way, without disagreement or bitterness.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient amare "to love", to love, giving rise to amicus (friend).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval amicabilis "friendly", friendly, from amicus (friend, from amare).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s amicable "characterized by friendliness and absence of discord", settled as the English word for something done in a friendly, cooperative way.