a. [ad. L. amīcābil-is (a word of Roman law), f. amīc-us friend, connected with amā-re to love. The earlier form was AMIABLE through OFr.; cf. appliable, which preceded applicable.]
1. gen. Friendly.
1532. T. Audeley, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 109, II. 24. The most joyous and amycable assemblie and meting of his Grace and the French Kinge.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., Apol. 22. The most amicable expressions.
1717. Pope, Eloisa, 301. Each mild, each amicable guest.
1748. Anson, Voy., III. vi. (ed. 4), 468. We once more arrived in an amicable port.
1835. Sir J. Ross, N.-W. Pass., v. 72. Pleased at the amicable and good-tempered manner with which they conducted themselves towards the natives.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. vi. 355. She had frequently, by amicable embassies, warned her brother of Spain.
2. esp. Of mutual arrangements: Done in a friendly spirit, with mutual goodwill, or without quarrelling or employment of force; peaceable, harmonious. Amicable suit: an action instituted by mutual understanding between the parties concerned, in order to secure an authoritative decision on a point of law.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj. (Table), 65. Amicabill composition is ane aggreance be arbitrie, conforme to ane paction agreid betwixt the parteis.
c. 1680. in Somers, Tracts, II. 272. Their Insolence … declares them to be above the humble Dispensation of an amicable Composure.
1780. Burke, Sp. Econ. Ref., Wks. III. 247. Amicable arrangements with a friend in power.
1794. S. Williams, Hist. Vermont, 249. An amicable settlement of all differences.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, iii. 79. We entered into amicable relations with the chief.
† 3. Of things: Kindly, benign, genial. Obs.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., IV. 127. Balsam of Peru … its amicable and peculiar faculty in strengthening the Nerves.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 214. No amicable verdure of Herbs.
b. Amicable (or amiable) numbers: ‘numbers which are mutually equal to the whole sum of each other’s aliquot parts. Such are the numbers 284 and 220. Chambers, Cycl. (1727–51).
1796. Hutton, Math. Dict., I. 101/2. F. Schooten … I believe first gave the name of amicable to such numbers.
1816. T. Taylor (title), Theoretic Arithmetic … together with some remarkable Particulars respecting Perfect, Amicable, and other Numbers.
