Dictionary

likableness en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English like Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English likable Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English likableness From likable + -ness.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The property of being likable, that which makes likable.
   • Those first two years in the White House were pretty rough ones for the First Lady. Since that time, she has developed a confidence and brought to her public image, if you will, a “likableness” that wasn’t there early on. 1986, Richard Wirthlin, “First Lady”, in Chris Wallace, First Lady: A Portrait of Nancy Reagan, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 66:
   • He leered at her after seeing her pass for a week or so, because she blushed and looked ‘green.’ She had never cared about a man, and this Irishman assumed all the virtues and likablenesses of her mind’s Sir Galahad after he had spoken to her a few times. 1906 May, Edna Wahlert, “Her America”, in Lee Ann Sandweiss, editor, Seeking St. Louis: Voices from a River City, 1670–2000, St. Louis, Mo.: Missouri Historical Society Press, published 2000, →ISBN, page 470:
   • Mr. O’Hara appears as a dashing hero, Barry O’Brian, and it is doubtful if he ever had a role that fitted him so perfectly. He is noted for the ease of his playing, for his charm and naturalness. To Barry he is said to bring all these qualities. It is a likable character and in the part Mr. O’Hara adds to his own many-sided likablenesses. 1922 March 18, “Fiske O’Hara Coming. Popular Actor-Singer Will Play Week’s Engagement at the Russell Theatre.”, in The Ottawa Evening Journal, volume XXXVII, number 83, Ottawa, Ont., →OCLC, page 17, column 5:

Forms

Synonyms

likeability