amicable
AM-ih-kuh-bul
/ˈæmɪkəbl/
Characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.
Usually used to describe a situation (like a divorce or agreement) rather than a person's personality.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Latin 'amicabilis', which is rooted in 'amare' (to love). It entered English in the 15th century to describe relationships that, while perhaps not loving, were at least friendly and non-combative.
Word relationships
- harmonious: Harmonious implies a deeper level of agreement; amicable is more about being civil.
- cordial: Cordial is polite but can be cold; amicable implies a lack of hostility.
- hostile: Hostile implies active aggression, the opposite of the peacefulness of amicable.
- acrimonious: Acrimonious describes a bitter, angry relationship or ending.
Commonly confused with
- amiable: Amiable describes a friendly person; amicable describes a friendly situation or relationship.
Word family
- amicably (adverb): In a friendly or peaceful manner.
Collocations
- amicable divorce
- amicable settlement
- amicable agreement
Example sentences
- "Despite the long legal process, the couple managed to reach an amicable settlement." Describing a peaceful divorce.
- "The two founders had an amicable parting of ways to pursue different ventures." A news report on a business split.
Memory hook
Amicable sounds like 'ami' (friend in French). Amicable = Ami (friend) + able (to be).
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'warm and fuzzy'; it's more about being civil and polite during a difficult process.
Fun facts
- The word 'enemy' actually comes from the same root: 'in-' (not) + 'amicus' (friend).
Also appears in
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