conversable

[ kuhn-vur-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. easy and pleasant to talk with; agreeable.
2. able or disposed to converse.
3. pertaining to or proper for conversation.

conversable

/ kənˈvɜːsəbəl /

adjective

1. easy or pleasant to talk to
2. able or inclined to talk

Derived Forms

• conˈversableness, noun
• conˈversably, adverb

Other Words From

• con·versa·ble·ness noun
• con·versa·bly adverb
• noncon·versa·ble adjective
• noncon·versa·ble·ness noun
• noncon·versa·bly adverb
• uncon·versa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conversable¹

From the Medieval Latin word conversābilis, dating back to 1590–1600. See converse ¹, -able

Example Sentences

“You will excuse my being so much over-powered. If I find him conversable, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts.”

From Literature

“And, in return for your acknowledging so much, I will do you the justice to say, that you would have chosen for him better than he has chosen for himself.—Harriet Smith has some first-rate qualities, which Mrs. Elton is totally without. An unpretending, single-minded, artless girl—infinitely to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such a woman as Mrs. Elton. I found Harriet more conversable than I expected.”

From Literature

The evening was quiet and conversable, as Mr. Woodhouse declined cards entirely for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella, and the little party made two natural divisions; on one side he and his daughter; on the other the two Mr. Knightleys; their subjects totally distinct, or very rarely mixing—and Emma only occasionally joining in one or the other.

From Literature

In a recent post on his blog, Conversable Economist, Timothy Taylor made a similar point.

From Washington Post

In an op-ed published during the Gaza war of 2014, Grossman asked Netanyahu’s government: “How could you have wasted the years since the last conflict without even making the slightest gesture toward dialogue … Why, for these past few years, has Israel avoided judicious negotiations with the moderate and more conversable sectors of the Palestinian people?”

From The Guardian

Related Words

• affable
• agreeable
• convivial
• cordial
• favorable
• genial
• gracious
• harmonious
• jovial
• mellow
• pleasant
• pleasing
• sociable
• sympathetic