Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “amicable” come from?

Amicable comes from Late Latin amicabilis, formed from Latin amicus meaning friend, using the Latin suffix -abilis to create an adjective meaning friendly or peaceful.

amicable (English): Showing friendliness or goodwill

Definitions

  1. Showing friendliness or goodwill

Ancestry of “amicable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latinamicabilisfriendly; friendly, capable of being friendly
2Latinamīcus—
3Latinamō—
4LatinDeusGod
5Latindẹ̄vos—
6Old Latindeivosgod, deity
7Proto-Italicdeiwosgod, deity
8Proto-Indo-Europeandeywósgod
9Proto-Indo-Europeandyew-to be bright; sky, heaven

Words derived from “amicable”

  • amicably
  • inimicable
  • amicableness
  • unamicable
  • inamicable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dyew- →