Word of the Day for Wednesday August 3, 2005 affable \AF-uh-buhl\, adjective: 1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner. 2. Gracious; benign. Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn, melancholy and ugly. --Susana Rotker (Editor), [1]The Memoirs of Fray Servando Teresa De Mier Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually was affable and relaxed. --Paul C. Nagel, [2]John Quincy Adams There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon; he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood. --"Presley Treats Fans to His Best," [3]New York Times, July 21, 1975 _________________________________________________________ Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, "to speak to," from ad-, "to" + fari, "to speak." References 1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195106733/ref=nosim/lexico 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0674479408/ref=nosim/lexico 3. http://www.nytimes.com/ Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=affable