Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Amiable, Amiabil, a. Also: amyable; amiabill, -byll, amyabil(e, -ill; amebill. [ME. amyable, amyabil, etc. (c 1350), OF. amiable.]

1. Of persons or speech: Friendly, well-disposed, amiable. Also used absol. as noun.c1475 Wall. v. 602 (amyabill, … curtas and swete scho was). c1500 Crying Play 19 (god saif this amyable audience). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 239 (quhen this amyable had endit hir speche); 265 (be amyable with humble face). 1513 Doug. x. viii. 72 (wordys amyabill). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 85 (he was wounder amiabill). 1578 Leslie 166 (he was of countenance amiable and lufely).

2. = Amicable a.c1420 Wynt. viii. 2344 (gud nychtbure and amyabil compositoure). 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 192 (be way of amiable composicioun). 1472 Bamff Chart. 28 (jugis arbitrouris and amiabil compositouris). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 109/23 (he was chosin ane amyabill compositoure).

3. Of things: Lovely, pleasant, attractive.c1450-2 Howlat 9 (all was amyable owr the air and the erd); 763 (the amyable organis). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 48 (ene of amiable blyth asure). 1513 Doug. i. x. 56 (wynys amyabill). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 105 (ane garding amiabill). 15.. Clar. iv. 1281 (servit with meitis amiabill).