1400-1500Late Latinamicablis, from amicus ‘friend’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Both sides were able to reach an amicable settlement out of court.
Simons sent his attorney to meet with the ranchers in hopes that they could still come to an amicable settlement.
The meeting between the two leaders was very amicable.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Hal Riney managing director David Verklin said the split was amicable, since it was never intended to be an ongoing relationship.
Miller's relations with the Royal Society were not always amicable.
None the less, such was his amicable nature that all welcomed him as a playing companion.
One of the pleasures of writing the book has been the attempt to settle an amicable debate of our own.
The amicable resolution suggested the reformist president and hard-line parliament may be trying to break their cycle of confrontation and deadlock.
They settled into an amicable silence as they breakfasted and turned the pages.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorfriendly relationships/conversations►friendly
· Friendly relations between the two countries have continued through this difficult time.on friendly terms (=in a friendly way)· Fontaine said that he was leaving the company on very friendly terms.
►amicable
formal an amicable arrangement or solution is one when people who do not agree with each other are able to solve their problems in a reasonably friendly way: · The meeting between the two leaders was very amicable.amicable arrangement/divorce/solution etc: · Simons sent his attorney to meet with the ranchers in hopes that they could still come to an amicable settlement.
►cordial
a cordial relationship between two people or groups is one in which people are polite and friendly to each other although they are not close friends: · Britain and Portugal have had cordial relations for more than four centuries.· Donnely was polite and cordial, but she refused to sign the contract.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY►amicable settlement/agreement
The two parties have reached an amicable settlement.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES►an amicable settlement
(=when people agree in a friendly way)· Disputes were often taken to a village council, which attempted to bring about an amicable settlement.
an amicable agreement, relationship etc is one in which people feel friendly towards each other and do not want to quarrel: Their relationship hasn’t always been amicable.amicable settlement/agreement The two parties have reached an amicable settlement.—amicably adverb: In the end, the matter was resolved amicably.