different between charming vs affable

English

Etymology

From Middle English charmyng; equivalent to charm +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t???(?).m??/
• Rhymes: -??(r)m??

Adjective

charming (comparative charminger or more charming, superlative (nonstandard) charmest or charmingest or most charming)

1. Pleasant, charismatic.

   Synonyms: charismatic, smart, witty

   Antonyms: dull, charmless
2. Delightful in a playful way which avoids responsibility or seriousness, as if attracting through a magical charm.

   Antonyms: silly, charmless

Translations

Verb

charming

1. present participle of charm

Noun

charming (plural charmings)

1. The casting of a magical charm.
   • 1616, Thomas Middleton, The Witch

     They denied me often flour, barm and milk, / Goose-grease and tar, when I ne'er hurt their charmings, / Their brewlocks, nor their batches, nor forespoke / Any of their breedings.

Anagrams

• marching

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).