different between affable vs tactful

English

Etymology

French affable, Latin aff?bilis, from affor (“I address”), from ad + for (“speak, talk”). See fable.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?æf.?.b?l/

Adjective

affable (comparative more affable, superlative most affable)

1. Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
   • 1912: James Burrill Angell, The Reminiscences Of James Burrill Angell, chapter ix "Mission To The Ottoman Empire"

     Furthermore, I may say, that the Sultan was always most affable to me in my interviews with him, even when I had to discuss some missionary questions. In fact, I never saw any traces of the difficulties which Mr. Terrell reported.

2. Mild; benign.
   • 1998: Alexia Maria Kosmider, Tricky Tribal Discourse, page 84

     During more affable weather, the four friends congregate outside, sometimes leaning their hickory chairs against a "catapa" tree...

Synonyms

• (friendly, courteous): accessible, civil, complaisant, courteous, friendly, gracious, personable
• (mild, benign): benign, mild, warm

Antonyms

• inaffable

Derived terms

• affability
• affableness
• affably

Related terms

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “affable”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin aff?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.fabl/
• Rhymes: -abl
• Homophone: affables

Adjective

affable (plural affables)

1. affable, amicable, sociable

Related terms

• affablement
• affabuler
• affabilité

Further reading

• “affable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

tact +? -ful

Adjective

tactful (comparative more tactful, superlative most tactful)

1. Possessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner.

   Antonym: tactless

Derived terms

• tactfully
• tactfulness

Translations