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Amicable vs Avuncular - What's the difference?

amicable | avuncular |

As adjectives the difference between amicable and avuncular

is that amicable is showing friendliness or goodwill while avuncular is in the manner of an uncle, pertaining to an uncle.

amicable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Showing friendliness or goodwill.
    • They hoped to reach an amicable agreement.
    He was an amicable fellow with an easy smile.

    Usage notes

    Amicable is particularly used of relationships or agreements (especially legal proceedings, such as divorce), with meaning ranging from simply “not quarrelsome, mutually consenting” to “quite friendly”. By contrast, the similar term amiable is especially used to mean “pleasant, lovable”, such as an “amiable smile”.The Penguin Wordmaster Dictionary,'' Martin Manser and Nigel Turton, eds., 1987, cited in “ Wordmaster: amiable, amicable]”, ''[http://itsmypulp.wordpress.com/ all songs lead back t' the sea], 23 Oct 2009, by [http://itsmypulp.wordpress.com/author/itsmypulp/ NTWrong

    Derived terms

    * amicability * amicableness * amicable number * amicably

    Related terms

    * amiable * amity

    References

    External links

    * * *

    avuncular

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • In the manner of an uncle, pertaining to an uncle.
  • * 1997 , , Jane Austen: A Life :
    • Both uncle Frank and uncle Stephen Austen had made it a point of principle to be rigorously unsentimental in the discharge of their avuncular obligations.
  • (by extension) Kind, genial, benevolent, or tolerant.
  • * 2003 , Vicki Croke, "New leader of the MSPCA moves to tame budget woes," Boston Globe , September 20:
    • Thornton's reputation was that of a soft-hearted and avuncular veterinarian known for getting teary-eyed while listening to even slightly sentimental stories.
  • * 1987 , William Schneider, "The New Shape of American Politics," The Atlantic , January:
    • A man with such a nice, avuncular personality would not blow up the world.

    Coordinate terms

    * maternal – mother * materteral – aunt * paternal – father