Forms: 4–5 lufabyll(e, 5 luffable, luffeabille, 5, 9 loveable, 9 lovable. [f. LOVE v.1 + -ABLE.] Deserving of being loved; amiable; attractive, pleasing.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 2. Ihesu, desederabill es thi name, lufabyll and comfortabyll.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3097. Ne no lede to hir lykyng halfe so luff-able.
1483. Cath. Angl., 222/2. Lufabylle (MS. A. Luffeabille); amabilis.
1570. Levins, Manip., 3/2. Loueable, amabilis.
1611. Cotgr., Aimable,… loueable.
1814. Mar. Edgeworth, Patronage, v. ‘She is … very loveable—that is the exact word.’ ‘I fear it is not English,’ said Miss Hauton.
1823. Scott, Fam. Lett. (1894), II. xix. 171. Teviotdale is a very loveable district.
1870. H. Smart, Race for Wife, ii. He had married … a sweet, lovable girl.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 10. 585. The wide sympathy with all that is human which is so loveable in Chaucer and Shakspere.
1898. L. Stephen, Stud. Biogr., II. i. 1. The man … who could display such reverent and loyal affection was certainly lovable.
† b. Friendly. Obs. rare–1.
1691. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 280. That the loveable cantons shal be guarantees of the treaty.
