cordial
/ˈkɔːdɪəl
/adjective
1Warm and friendly: the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed...
- I did so hope Dallas would give the Kennedys a warm and very cordial welcome.
- I am sure the delegates and the athletes will enjoy a friendly and cordial welcome from the people of Athy.
- Could I first of all say a very warm and cordial welcome to you, Mr Justham, and indeed to your colleagues.
Synonyms
friendly, warm, genial, affable, amiable, pleasant, fond, affectionate, warm-hearted, good-natured, gracious, hospitable, welcoming;
sincere, earnest, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, enthusiastic, eager
2Strongly felt: I earned his cordial loathing
Synonyms
intense, strong, acute, violent, fierce, keen, fervent, ardent, passionate;
heartfelt, wholehearted, deep, deep-seated, deep-rooted, profound, overwhelming, overpowering
rare fervid, perfervid, passional
noun
1British A sweet fruit-flavoured drink: wine cups and fruit cordials [mass noun]: a tall glass of blackcurrant cordial...
- Fruit cordials are the perfect drink for both formal and informal occasions.
- Swapping fizzy drinks, fruit juices and cordials for nice cold plain water can make a big difference to children's dental health.
- A knowledge of the properties of syrups at different concentrations and temperatures is basic to sugar boiling and confectionery, and they are also important in fruit preservation and in making soft drinks and cordials.
Synonyms
squash, crush, concentrate
1.1North American another term for liqueur.And some of the best ingredients to work with are cordials, liqueurs and schnapps....
- They are also used as ingredients in sweet dishes, an extensive and important role shared with liqueurs, cordials, and eaux-de-vie.
- Heaven Hill markets more than 50 labels of bourbon, rye, scotch, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, cognac, wines and cordials.
Synonyms
liqueur;
alcoholic drink
2A pleasant-tasting medicine.More likely, it had particular currency for a British public that had been besieged for years with outrageous claims for cure-all tonics, pills, oils, and cordials in the ubiquitous advertisements for patent medicines....
- Thorncroft's Detox Cordial helped quite a few sore heads and is a pleasant, thirst-quenching squash for summer.
- What I REALLY did was take three Nurofen and swig a mouthful of cordial.
Derivatives
cordiality
- Love cancels resentment, envy and jealousy and replaces them with kindness, forbearance and cordiality.
- Many patients who consulted Jung have testified to the cordiality, warmth, and courtesy with which they were received.
- But the mood was one of cordiality and personal warmth.
Origin
Middle English (also in the sense 'belonging to the heart'): from medieval Latin cordialis, from Latin cor, cord- 'heart'.
The Latin word cordis meant ‘to do with the heart’, and this is the source and original meaning of cordial. It was not long before the adjective was being used to describe drinks as ‘comforting’ or ‘stimulating the heart’, and the core ‘heart’ meaning came to be applied to people too, in connection with actions or behaviour that seemed sincere and heartfelt—acting ‘from the heart’. The root, Latin cor ‘heart’, is the source of many words, including chord, discord (Middle English), and courage (Middle English). Heart itself came from the same ancient root.