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Affable vs Benignant - What's the difference?

affable | benignant |

As adjectives the difference between affable and benignant

is that affable is receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable while benignant is kind; gracious; favorable.

affable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
  • * 1912 : 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.
  • 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

    * accessible, civil, complaisant, courteous, friendly, gracious * benign, mild, warm

    Derived terms

    * affability * affableness * affably

    benignant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Kind; gracious; favorable.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 417:
    • Here Nature appears in her richest attire, and Art, dressed with the modestest simplicity, attends her benignant mistress.