| 释义 |
affable, a.|ˈæfəb(ə)l|
[a. Fr. affable (14th c. in Litt.) ad. L. affābilis easy to be spoken to; f. affāri or adfāri to address; f. ad to + fāri to speak.]
Easy of conversation or address; civil and courteous in receiving and responding to the conversation or address of others—especially inferiors or equals; accostable, courteous, complaisant, benign. (Const. to comparatively recent.)
1540Whittinton Tullyes Offyce I. 50 Ulysses..wolde shewe hym selfe to all persones effable and gentyll to speake vnto. 1545Joye Expos. Dan. xi. (R.) He was prudent, comely, princely, affable, ientle and amiable. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. i. 168 Valiant as a Lyon, and wondrous affable. 1610B. Jonson Alchem. ii. iii. (1616) 628 [She is] the most affablest creatur, sir! so merry! 1667Milton P.L. vii. 42 Raphaël, The affable archangel. 1723J. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) I. 53 Gentle his look, and affable his mien. 1876Freeman Norm. Conq. II. vii. 27 When not stirred up by passion he was gentle and affable to all men.
†b. Formerly used more loosely. Obs.
1622Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 501 The judiciall and affable judgements of this age. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. ii. (1851) 148 The learned and affable meeting of frequent Academies. 1709Steele Tatler No. 101 ⁋5 A Country Foxhunter..shall in a Week's Time look with a courtly and affable Paleness. |