approachableadj.
/əˈprəʊtʃəb(ə)l/ 1. Capable of being approached; accessible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > affording access > accessible
accessiblea1425
approachable?a1560
adible1568
reachable1600
accessive1611
come-at-able?1685
get-at-able1799
frequentable1843
attainable1856
?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) i. x. sig. D ij v Without shadowe.. to take heigthes approchable.
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) III. v. 125 The town was..approachable only by a narrow causeway.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. v. 50 It was desirable that..it should be approachable by boats.
2. figurative in various uses of the verb.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > warm or friendly in manner > that can be approached or accosted
accessible1581
frequentablea1586
accostable1611
approachable1611
boardable1611
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Abordable, affable, abbordable, approachable.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 72. ⁋11 He that regards the welfare of others should make his virtue approachable.
1828 T. Carlyle Goethe in Foreign Rev. 2 105 To arrive at this Truth,..approachable by most, attainable by some small number, is the end and aim of all real study of Poetry.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adj.?a1560