Middle English Dictionary Entry
āmiāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | āmiāble adj. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Like a friend; kindly, friendly, affable (person); friendly, affectionate (behavior, missive); (b) propitious, favorable (planet).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.18.24 : A man amyable [WB(2): freendli; L amabilis].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.138 : She was..ful plesaunt and amyable of port And peyned hire to countrefete chere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2168 : With amyable wordes hire to reconforte.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.628 : The amyable tonge is the tree of lyf.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5225 : No man may be amyable [F amiables], But if he be so..stable That fortune chaunge hym not.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4007 : Remembryng the feithful woordis stable Off my brother..the kyssyng amyable.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.193r : Vpon this, William Rous kyng, seyng all Normandye ispired ayenst him and Englyssh many [?read: many Englyssh] knyt gederes ayenst him he [?read: his] trewe Englisshmen with amyable lettres he let ofsende.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)51 : Pees is a vertu pacient..Froward cheerys pees makith amyable.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1657 : He made hym chere, semeyng Amyabill..and wondir desseyvabill.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15056 : The scorpyoun..Amyable off contenaunce.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.323 : Bryddes..odious to serpentes and amiable [Trev.: mylde; L mites] to men.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.8.21 : The amyable Fortune desceyveth folk; the contrarie Fortune techeth.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)17 : Jubiter is a planete..amiable and ful gladde..a mankyndly [F humaine] planete.
2.
Worthy of love or admiration; lovable, adorable, admirable; lovely, pleasing.
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)586 : Þat amiabul maide alisaundrine.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 5.11 : Ȝe shuln plante most amyable [WB(2): most louyd; L amantissimas] vyne ȝerdis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.4.8 : What euere thingis amyable, or able for to be loued [L amabilia].
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)11 : Heil homely, hende and amyable.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)27/6 : Þat amiable quere, þat preisiþ in heuene þe goodnes of þis inserchable godhed.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Kings 1.26 : Jonathas, ful fair and amyable [WB(1): loueli; L amabilis] more than the loue of wymmen.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Kings 12.25 : He clepide his name Amyable [WB(1): Loueli: L Amabilis] to the Lord, for the Lord louyde hym.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Esth.2.15 : Sche semyde graciouse and amyable to the iȝen of alle men.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)156a/b : Gode blode is..pure in odour and amiable [*Ch.(2): louesome: L amicabilis] in sapour.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)8/16 : Owyr mercyful Lord Crist Ihesu..aperyd to hys creatur..in lyknesse of a man, most semly, most bewtyuows, & most amyable.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)69 : Face of Absolon moost fair, moost amyable.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Kath.Sienna (Dc 114)184/34 : Broþer Stephen..gretiþ wel..a worshypful man..& ful amyabil to hym.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)10 : A full gentill squyer..right amyable, whome the Kyng entierly loved as his owne sone.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)388/610 : That charyte that ys so amyable And bryght shynyng in thy mageste.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)25/12 : Whyll a chyld ys ȝeong and wythout synne, hyt ys more amyable þen hit ys aftyr.