Make Your Point > Archived Issues > AMICABLE

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connect today's word to others: Recently we checked out amiable, a very close relative of amicable. They both mean "friendly," and they both come from the Latin word for "friend," ultimately from amare, "love." So what's the difference? Usually we talk about amiable people and their behaviors, vs. amicable relationships and situations. Let's consider an example of a breakup that was amicable. Or was it? Remember Billy Joel's song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," the one that tells the story of Brenda and Eddie, how they married young but then split up?            They got a divorce as a matter of course,           And they parted the closest of friends. Those lyrics have bugged me for decades: Did Brenda and Eddie part amicably, as the closest of friends, maintaining a close friendship after the romance? Or did they part with en__ty, with hatred and hostility, while splitting apart their group of friends and forcing each to choose a side? Ahh, I don't know! The lyrics are ambi_____: they can be interpreted in two different ways. Please weigh in! (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "AMICABLE" Something amicable is friendly, with no hatred and no fighting. Pronunciation: AM ick uh bull Part of speech: Adjective: "their amicable meeting," "these negotiations are amicable." Other forms: The adverb is "amicably," and the nouns are "amicability" and "amicableness." How to use it: "Amicable" is a bit formal. Pick it instead of "friendly" when you need to emphasize how something is done in a civil, polite, friendly way even though there's the chance that the people involved might feel hostile, hateful, angry, bitter, etc. Talk about amicable discussions and negotiations; amicable relations and relationships; amicable agreements, solutions, and resolutions; amicable arrangements and situations; and all kinds of amicable splits, exits, and departures, like break-ups, divorces, disbandings, and resignations from jobs. You might also talk about amicable terms and feelings, or an amicable tone or mood. And remember, "amicable" describes the way that people interact, the way they relate to each other. If you just mean that one person is warm and friendly, use the word "amiable" (or "friendly") instead. examples: On r/ChangeMyView, users gather for amicable conversation, offering reasons and evidence to change each other's opinions. Hostile comments get removed. "New York attorney Evan Oshan, who represents the dog's owners, the Robledo family of Queens, said the airline and the family reached an 'amicable settlement' [after the airline killed the dog] but declined to discuss the terms."    — Hugo Martin, The Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "amicable" without saying "in the spirit of goodwill" or "without bitter argument." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "I (expect or don't expect) (some people) to (accomplish something) amicably." Example: "Despite the chipper wording of its return policy, I don't expect the store to process my refund amicably." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "Inspired by, but in no way associated with, Jeopardy!" In each issue, I'll create three "answers" for you, and you supply the "questions." (That is, you'll respond in the form of a question, like "What is...?" or "Who is...?") From the previous issue: 1. Category: Words in "January." Answer: It's a subtle or distinct quality that envelops something. Question: What is an aura? 2. Category: Where Did the Soda Go? Answer: It's a two-word slangy British term for "absolutely nothing" or "very little." Question: What is "sod all"? 3. Category: Inconsonant. Answer: This four-stringed instrument can fit under the seat in front of you on your flight to Honolulu: UUEE. Question: What is a ukulele? Try these today: 1. Category: Where Did the Soda Go? Answer: It means "occasional, incidental, not continuous but full of separate episodes." 2. Category: Inconsonant. Answer: This kind of person—or species—exploits circumstances to their own advantage: OOUI. 3. Category: Bombastic Bywords. Answer: Not everything that coruscates is made auriferously. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of AMICABILITY is A. ENMITY. B. INIQUITY. C. OBLIQUITY. 2. Although they insist their relationship remains amicable, that _____ looked _____. A. embrace .. tepid B. shared stare .. tender C. handshake .. combative Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C