affabilis

Affabilis is a Latin adjective used in classical and medieval Latin to describe a person who is easy to speak to, approachable, or courteous. The sense aligns closely with the English adjective affable, and affabilis is typically glossed as “able to be spoken to” or “easy to approach.”

Etymology and form: Affabilis belongs to the Latin suffix -abilis, which forms adjectives meaning “able to be …ed.” The root relates to speaking in this usage, yielding the sense of someone whose manner invites conversation. In Latin dictionaries, affabilis is listed as a descriptive term for sociable or agreeable behavior, especially in contexts of hospitality or moral critique.

Usage: In Latin prose and poetry, affabilis characterizes a demeanor that invites dialogue and fellowship. It can describe a person’s temperament as friendly and obliging, or a style of speech that is courteous and easy to engage with. The term often appears in rhetorical or exemplary passages illustrating virtuous sociability or benevolent hospitality.

Legacy in English and related terms: The English adjective affable and the noun affability trace their lineage to Latin affabilis and its related noun affabilitas. Through medieval and early modern transmission, these terms formed part of the vocabulary describing genial and communicative conduct. Today, affabilis is primarily of historical or philological interest, encountered mainly in studies of Latin vocabulary and etymology.