Amiable and amicable

[Tamara]

Hi

Sometimes I mix up the words amiable and amicable.

Could you say something about them to make me a bit more comprehensive ?
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[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

Amiable refers for example to someone's personality and suggests a friendly and pleasant manner - in a sense likeable. Amicable refers to things like arrangements and agreements that are favourable to both sides in the agreement or arrangement. You can come to an amicable agreement with someone where you and the other person both benefit without anything actually being written down. It's a sort of favourable deal

Alan
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[Tamara]

Hi Alan

Thank you for the explanation. The general difference is now more clear.

My difficulty mainly appear in those cases when amicable is applied to people.

Exactly in the meaning:
amicable - Characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly. (c)

- when they are (almost) synonyms (with amiable).

But I will stick to ‘exhibiting’ and to the attitude that amiable is a general characteristic of personality, whereas amicable (perhaps) could be just a description of some current particular features demonstrated (amicable manners, etc)

If it’s OK – many thanks.
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

I wouldn't really use amicable to describe a person. It would have to refer to things like attitude, arrangement, behaviour, approach but not with direct reference to the person.

Alan
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