affablenessn.
/ˈafəblnəs/, U.S. /ˈæfəb(ə)lnəs/ = affability n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [noun] > quality of being agreeable or affable
agreeability?c1400
affability?1483
facility1542
easiness1567
affableness1587
agreeablenessa1631
communicablenessa1631
conversableness1675
agreemony1678
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun] > agreeable behaviour > affability
affability?1483
affableness1587
debonairty1600
debonair1697
debonairness1753
1587 A. Fleming 3rd Table Chron. Eng. sig. Dv, in A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III Erle of Essex. His humanitie, affablenesse, &c.
1620 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. V. N.T. ii. 339 Neither as God, nor man doth he [sc. Christ] take pleasure in a sterne froward austerity..but in a milde affablenesse, and amiable conuersation.
1699 W. P. tr. J. Le Clerc Suppl. Dr. Hammond's Paraphr. & Annot. New Test. 295 This Joy..discovers it self, in the courteousness and affableness of our behaviour.
1743 Scots Mag. Apr. 181/1 From an innate candor and generosity sprung that courteous affableness whereby she attracted the..good wishes of all.
1881 Southwestern Christian Advocate (New Orleans) 14 Apr. His affableness and brotherly disposition, have greatly endeared him to us.
1934 C. P. Snow Search iii. 39 At times he looked up and spoke to us with a slightly pompous affableness.
1989 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 16 June 20 A consummate politician, it now suits his ends to bury his past behind a facade of pleasant affableness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1587