personable

English

Alternative forms

• personible (obsolete)
• parsonable (obsolete)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English personable, personabil, equivalent to person +‎ -able. Compare Medieval Latin personabilis (“personal”), found in a late 13th century British source. The Middle French personable (“remarkable, important”), doesn't appear until 1528.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɜː(ɹ)sənəbəl/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

Adjective

personable (comparative more personable, superlative most personable)

1. (of a person) Having a pleasing appearance or manner; attractive; handsome; friendly; amiable.
   • (Can we date this quote by Spenser and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     Wise, warlike, personable, courteous, and kind.

   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. 19:

     I admit him a personable man, for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous and agreeable.

   • 1908, E. M. Forster, A Room With a View, ch. 12:

     Barefoot, bare-chested, radiant and personable against the shadowy woods, he called: "Hullo, Miss Honeychurch! Hullo!"

   • 1919, Joseph A. Altsheler. The Sun Of Quebec, ch. 5:

     I'm bound to admit that you're a personable young rascal, with the best manners I've met in a long time.

   • 2009, Randy James, "2-Min. Bio: Stephanie Birkitt: Letterman's Lover?," Time, 5 Oct.:

     Aside from being incredibly funny and personable he is generous, kind and is great fun to play catch with.

2. (law) Enabled to maintain pleas in court.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowell to this entry?)

3. Having capacity to take anything granted.

Synonyms

• (having a pleasing appearance or manner): affable

Translations

having pleasing appearance or manner

• German: freundlich (de), sympathisch (de), von angenehmer Erscheinung, ansehnlich (de)
• Irish: pearsanta, pearsantach, dathúil
• Polish: przyjazny (pl) m, sympatyczny (pl) m, przyjemny (pl) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: приятный (ru) (prijatnyj)
• Spanish: simpatico, amable (es)