different between sociable vs aloof

English

Etymology

From Middle French sociable, from Latin sociabilis.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?so???b?l/

Adjective

sociable (comparative more sociable, superlative most sociable)

1. (of a person) Tending to socialize or be social

   Synonyms: friendly, inviting, congenial

   • c. 1611, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline

     Society is no comfort to one not sociable.

2. Offering opportunities for conversation; characterized by much conversation.

3. (archaic) Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable.
   • 1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie

     They are sociable parts united into one body.

4. (obsolete) No longer hostile; friendly.

   • Is the King sociable And bids thee live ?

Antonyms

• (tending to socialize): unsociable

Derived terms

• sociability
• sociableness

Translations

Noun

sociable (plural sociables)

1. A sociable person.
2. (historical) A four-wheeled open carriage with seats facing each other.
3. A bicycle or tricycle for two persons side by side.
4. A couch with a curved S-shaped back.
5. (US) An informal party or church meeting for purposes of socializing.
   • 1903, George Horace Lorimer, Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to his Son (page 46)

     At the church sociables he used to hop around among them, chipping and chirping like a dicky-bird picking up seed; and he was a great hand to play the piano, and sing saddish, sweetish songs to them.

Asturian

Adjective

sociable (epicene, plural sociables)

1. sociable

Catalan

Adjective

sociable (masculine and feminine plural sociables)

1. sociable

French

Pronunciation

Adjective

sociable (plural sociables)

1. sociable

Galician

Alternative forms

• sociábel

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s?.??ja.ble/, [s??.??ja.?le?]

Adjective

sociable m or f (plural sociables)

1. sociable

Antonyms

• insociable

Spanish

Adjective

sociable (plural sociables)

1. sociable

English

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??lu?f/
• Rhymes: -u?f

Adverb

aloof (comparative more aloof, superlative most aloof)

1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
2. Without sympathy; unfavorably.

Translations

Adjective

aloof (comparative more aloof, superlative most aloof)

1. Reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant; standoffish.

Derived terms

• aloofly
• aloofness

Translations

Preposition

aloof

1. (obsolete) Away from; clear of.

See also

• See also Thesaurus:arrogant

References

Anagrams

• loofa