personable

English[edit]

From Middle English personable, personabil, equivalent to person +‎ -able. Compare Medieval Latin personabilis (“personal”), found in a late 13th century British source. The Middle French personable (“remarkable, important”) does not appear until 1528.

personable (comparative more personable, superlative most personable)

(of a person) Having a pleasing appearance; attractive; handsome.
- 1822, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 19, in The Fortunes of Nigel:
  I admit him a personable man, for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous and agreeable.
- 1908, E. M. Forster, chapter 12, in A Room With a View:
  Barefoot, bare-chested, radiant and personable against the shadowy woods, he called: "Hullo, Miss Honeychurch! Hullo!"
(of a person) Having a pleasant manner; friendly; amiable.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 5:
  Wise, warlike, personable, curteous, and kind.
- 1919, Joseph A. Altsheler, chapter 5, in The Sun Of Quebec:
  I'm bound to admit that you're a personable young rascal, with the best manners I've met in a long time.
- 2009 October 5, Randy James, “2-Min. Bio: Stephanie Birkitt: Letterman's Lover?”, in Time:
  Aside from being incredibly funny and personable he is generous, kind and is great fun to play catch with.
(law, obsolete) Enabled to maintain pleas in court.
- 15th century, Petitions of the Commons[1]
  The Queen be by that name personable to plead
- 1607, John Cowell), The Interpreter:
  The demaundant was iudged personable to maintaine this action

having pleasing appearance or manner