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affable
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  • With a rising sense of panic, I watched the affable helper putting on his jacket.†   (source)
  • Joe's affability contrasted with the discomfiture of the men on the bench.†   (source)
  • 'Come on, now, Harry, you'll be late for your next lesson,' said Slughorn affably, snapping the gold clasps shut on his dragonskin briefcase.†   (source)
  • His campus nickname-"The Dolphin"-was a reference both to his affable nature and his legendary ability to dive into a pool and outmaneuver the entire opposing squad in a water polo match.†   (source)
  • When he took his place at the dining table, calm, affable, utterly certain, a crisis in the kitchen became no more than a humorous sketch; without him, it was a drama that clutched the heart.†   (source)
  • Tom is affable and good-natured right up until the moment the whiskey he's tippling from a flask in the pocket of his father's too-big suit coat makes him drunk.†   (source)
  • Tomard was a solid man; affable, loyal, tireless, capable in a limited way, but he was near fifty, and even in his youth he had never been energetic.†   (source)
  • This was a different, more affable energy, with the pills: a combination of sluggishness and brightness, a bemused, goofy, floating quality.†   (source)
  • Bast's normally affable expression sharpened into a glare.†   (source)
  • I know little about Richard Van Horn, an affable cherub with a bald pate, except that he had been an Episcopal priest who segued into mental health more than two decades ago.†   (source)
  • In college, I even wore glasses for a bit, fake spectacles with clear lenses that I thought would lend me an affable, unthreatening vibe.†   (source)
  • At the lake we stop and stretch and mingle affably with the small crowd of tourists holding cameras and children yelling, "Don't go too close!" and see cars and campers with all different license plates, and see the Crater Lake with a feeling of "Well, there it is," just as the pictures show.†   (source)
  • Dr. Sherman, a tall, distinguished-looking man with a gruff but affable demeanor, confirmed that the fetus was dead.†   (source)
  • He was what my dad called an affable drunk.†   (source)
  • Here, it said, wearing a kid grin, was a very personable character, clean-cut, affable, a fellow any man might trust to shave him.†   (source)
  • She had been close to their father, an affable, disorganized man, an expert in sheep, who had spent his days in the closed-up room at the top of the stairs, reading journals, or out at the research station, standing amid the sheep with their strange and slanting yellow eyes.†   (source)
  • Jack knew him to be a mercurial man, affable one moment, brittle the next.†   (source)
  • An affable sort of human shambles in a tropical shirt and slapdash beard—he's in a lively mood today because he has managed to rig a system in the building that produces enough power to run a TV set.†   (source)
  • His Marine photograph shows an intelligent, open adolescent face, clear-eyed and confident—a handsome face in an affable, jug-eared way.†   (source)
  • "Oh, he's an affable enough sort," said Bert.†   (source)
  • The department manager was a stylish, affable woman of about fifty, just the type who would work with brides for twenty years.†   (source)
  • 'Take it easy, fellas,' the short patriotic Texan counseled affably, with an uncertain grin.†   (source)
  • He was clearheaded, listened carefully, and appeared affable.†   (source)
  • He's Jewish and conventionally handsome with brown hair and green-blue eyes-bright, affable, and engaging.†   (source)
  • His American accent was sharp, jarring to the ear, but offset by the way he drawled out his words, by his relaxed, affable manner, as if he'd never had an unpleasant moment in his life and did not expect to.†   (source)
  • She'd been impressed by his looks at first—those sharply planed cheekbones and those black, fathomless eyes—but his affable, sympathetic personality grated on her now She didn't like boys who looked as if they never got mad about anything.†   (source)
  • He had made his career in the Commons and, with his affable manner, had acquired few if any enemies among his political opponents.†   (source)
  • John Rimbauer is a partner in a large oil company, Omicron Oil, along with a Mr. Douglas Posey, an affable, quiet gentleman whose company I've had the good fortune to keep, along with that of his wife, Phillis.†   (source)
  • "Oh, hey, Bella," Deputy Steve said affably.†   (source)
  • This is not the John Kennedy whom some consider to be an affable young man who was elected based on good looks and his father's money.†   (source)
  • Rearden," said the eldest judge, smiling affably, reproachfully and spreading his arms, "it is regrettable that you should have misunderstood us so completely.†   (source)
  • Though I had taken no vows of chastity, women responded to me as though I were an affable rural curate with no thunder in my pants.†   (source)
  • "Learning the business, I see," John finally said, affably.†   (source)
  • A soldier called the Guitarist, an affable Florentine who, with his classical songs, made the long nights tolerable, had refused to believe the scale theory.†   (source)
  • Then there would be no question of erections, how they reflected on this naked, affable Danish woman opposite him.†   (source)
  • But, as of old, his smooth face fairly shone with affable ease.†   (source)
  • The ticket-taker on the streetcar nodded affably when I paid my fare.†   (source)
  • BRADY (With affable sarcasm) Is the counsel, for the defense showing us the latest fashion in the great metropolitan city of Chicago?†   (source)
  • I had liked Herb well enough as an affable visitor dropping in occasionally with ice cream treats, but now my heartclosed against him.†   (source)
  • The fat customer, with a rather affable look about him, said he would have a rye.†   (source)
  • MORE He was very affable at dinner.†   (source)
  • "Well, keep it up if you want," he said affably, wiping his mouth with his napkin.†   (source)
  • With typical affability, Hans replied, "Nothing, my good man, nothing at all.†   (source)
  • Gone was the affable smile, the playful look in his eyes.†   (source)
  • "Sure it is," she answered, almost affably.†   (source)
  • "You're lucky, you're my last of the day-I can stay late," she says, clipped but affable.†   (source)
  • And all this is said with much affability and ease and freedom of old acquaintance.†   (source)
  • The affable young man with whom he was sharing the front seat said his name was Dick.†   (source)
  • Crawford and Mr. Banerjee, affable gabbers both.†   (source)
  • He could neither talk, read, nor write, yet he was as likable and affable as anyone in the class.†   (source)
  • RICH (Respectful affability) Indeed yes, we're old friends.†   (source)
  • Yeh, but you're nuts," said Max affably.†   (source)
  • But those first nine expeditions embarked for Tibet from Darjeeling, where many Sherpas had emigrated, and where they had developed a reputation among the resident colonialists for being hardworking, affable, and intelligent.†   (source)
  • Dr. Abaddon said affably as he emptied his pockets of a cell phone, some keys, and a cigarette lighter.†   (source)
  • Jimmy's wordserf job was surely one that Crake would despise, though affably, and Crake's pursuits might not be something Jimmy could understand any more.†   (source)
  • Later I came to notice that she was always affability itself when Mr. Kinnear was not present, but jumpy as a cat when he was, and when I was in the same room with him; but I was not aware of it then.†   (source)
  • "Some do that," she says, her tone almost affable now, though distanced; it's as if we're considering a choice of nail polish.†   (source)
  • Although this did not appear to be the case: he was affable enough to me at first, at least in daylight.†   (source)
  • I had to maintain an affable if somewhat naive persona, a woman who loved her husband and could see some of his flaws (otherwise she'd be too much of a sap) but was sincerely devoted to him—all the while leading the reader (in this case, the cops, I am so eager for them to find it) toward the conclusion that Nick was indeed planning to kill me.†   (source)
  • The affable exterior had gone.†   (source)
  • An affable Victorian gentleman, Franklin was said to be a good-natured bumbler, dogged and clueless, with the naive ideals of a child and a disdain for acquiring backcountry skills.†   (source)
  • I haven't given any consideration to what I might do if he resists, but I know the terms of the relationship are changing here and now I am no longer a benign presence, the affable new guy in his life who brings casual conversation and occasional gifts, asking nothing in return.†   (source)
  • I lay there drifting, wondering, imagining… OMAR FAISAL WAS CHUBBY, dark, had dimpled cheeks, black button eyes, and an affable, gap-toothed smile.†   (source)
  • Let's have it," he said, with an affable tick of the gun, and with a rush of horror I realized he was pointing the gun at Boris, gesturing with the gun at the felt-wrapped package in Boris's hands.†   (source)
  • The group mind was such (private jokes and bemusement, everyone clustered round vacation videos on the iPhone) that it was hard to imagine any of them going to a movie by themselves or eating alone at a bar; sometimes, the affable sense of committee among the men particularly gave me the slight feeling of being interviewed for a job.†   (source)
  • "Fantastic," I kept saying, in my affable new talking-to-Kitsey voice, "it all looks great," although given her family and its history with water, it did seem odd that she wasn't interested in Vienna or Paris or Prague or any destination, actually, that wasn't a literal island in the middle of the freaking ocean.†   (source)
  • Her parents—whom I loved hearing stories about, and who had unfairly died before I'd had the chance to know them—had been affable horse trainers who travelled around the west and raised Morgan horses for a living: cocktail-drinking, canasta-playing livelies who went to the Kentucky Derby every year and kept cigarettes in silver boxes around the house.†   (source)
  • "Well, God knows, I have a hard time remembering things too," said Hobie affably, and rising with the dishes, steered the conversation into other channels.†   (source)
  • Gates, a former British officer, was an affable, plain-faced man who, like Washington, had served during the French and Indian War on the disastrous Braddock expedition.†   (source)
  • THE BRITISH COMMANDER, an easygoing, affable man who had never been averse to taking his pleasures when he could, was openly enjoying himself through the winter with his own elegant dinners, extended evenings at the faro table, and conspicuously in the company of a stunning young woman about whom there was much talk.†   (source)
  • Yossarian flipped his eyes open in alarm and saw the totally unexpected bulging black puffs of flak crashing down in toward them from high up and Aarfy's complacent melon-round tiny-eyed face gazing out at the approaching cannon bursts with affable bemusement.†   (source)
  • "I'm just saying that there are a number of uses for an English night far superior to investigating a murder," said the inspector in charge of the murder scene, a stout, affable fellow called Clowes.†   (source)
  • Some of the cadre were basically harmless; some were even gentle, affable guys when you met them alone on campus.†   (source)
  • The cloth was laced with something like ether, though weakly, so that I wouldn't fully lose consciousness, and they walked me out of the building affably telling people and security that it was my birthday and I was drunk.†   (source)
  • Later on, after the boys had grown up into men, some of the ones who settled in town would come into the store, to buy a bed tray, or a walker, or perhaps an ice bag for a feverish child, and they would speak to me as if they had never done the things I knew they had done, they would just make affable small talk and docilely ask my advice as they might from any doctor, their eyes wavering and expectant.†   (source)
  • The only one who ever came close enough to look was the affable Texan, who came close enough several times a day to chat with him about more votes for the decent folk, opening each conversation with the same unvarying greeting: 'What do you say, fella?†   (source)
  • He is polite with dignity, affable without formality, distant without haughtiness, grave without austerity, modest, wise, and good.†   (source)
  • The lad looks like he's had about enough for today," I said in what I hoped was an affable, rather benign voice.†   (source)
  • He'd had Ted Sizer, Brown's famous education professor, back when he was getting his master's in education at Harvard in the late '60s; his mix of teaching and administrating might intrigue them; and he "presented" well, with his easy, affable manner, accessible good looks (much like the fatherly, grayhaired actor William Windom), and the slightly rumpled demeanor of a professor, all tweed and oxford cotton and rep ties.†   (source)
  • Heath, a much younger man, was a fifth-generation Roxbury farmer, age thirty-eight, who would affably describe himself in a memoir as "of middling stature, light complexion, very corpulent, and bald-headed."†   (source)
  • Once Yossarian had driven him back from the nose, Aarfy was free to cower on the floor where Yossarian longed to cower, but he stood bolt upright instead with his stumpy arms resting comfortably on the backs of the pilot's and co-pilot's seats, pipe in hand, making affable small talk to McWatt and whoever happened to be co-pilot and pointing out amusing trivia in the sky to the two men, who were too busy to be interested.†   (source)
  • People have a tendency to believe everything I say when I'm breaking their arm," Pig said affably and without belligerence, only stating facts according to his vision of the world.†   (source)
  • Jefferson's aide, William Short, came on errands from Paris, and the duplicitous Dr. Edward Bancroft showed up, affable as always.†   (source)
  • 'You know, Yossarian,' he mused affably in a manner of casual reflection that seemed both derisive and sincere, 'I really do admire you a bit.†   (source)
  • All things considered, the royal family was surprisingly affable, but certainly the life they led was not to be envied.†   (source)
  • A plump, rather pleasant-looking lawyer who had been educated at Yale, he was thought trustworthy and affable.†   (source)
  • 'What your mother means, son,' interjected his father affably one time with that flair for graceful and economical expression Nately admired so much, 'is that old money is better than new money and that the newly rich are never to be esteemed as highly as the newly poor.†   (source)
  • An affable and unusually accomplished man of many interests—writer, inventor, member of the Royal Society, avid experimenter with inks and dyes—he was the ideal companion for Franklin.†   (source)
  • It was as if all Adams's troubles, all the pent-up anger and frustration he had had in his dealings with the cabinet, let go in a furious outburst at James McHenry, an incompetent but affable man whom Adams rather liked.†   (source)
  • Greeting Adams affably, Herschel was delighted to talk of his work, and Adams returned to Grosvenor Square elated.†   (source)
  • She has stateliness in her manners which some misconstrue into pride and a haughtiness, but which rather results from too great reserve; she wants more affability, but she has prudence and discretion beyond her years.†   (source)
  • When I had carefully explained the cabalistic ritual of my teaching secrets, he affably informed me that those methods were all wrong.†   (source)
  • The policeman nodded affably to me and I knew then that I had successfully passed back into white society, that I was once more a first-class citizen, that all doors into cafes, rest rooms, libraries, movies, concerts, schools and churches were suddenly open to me.†   (source)
  • RICH Oh, everyone's affable here ….†   (source)
  • Since I had never entered any community where strangers were greeted as affably as old friends, this information did not disturb me to any perceptible degree.†   (source)
  • The young man stared back without much curiosity, looking at the affable face much the way you stare out at a little station where your train is passing through.†   (source)
  • You know how a fish is, I expect," the postmaster was saying affably to them both, just as if they were in any way together.†   (source)
  • Leaning over the front seat she commented affably, "You're the girl who knows Jane Rady, aren't you?†   (source)
  • He smiled and said softly, affably, "Yes suh, Cap'n Shepperton.†   (source)
  • He ejected a quid of tobacco, nodded affably to Merlyn and pointed his trident at the Wart.†   (source)
  • Philip Lombard said affably: "Sleeping the clock round?†   (source)
  • Mr. Hardman, who was smoking a cigar, welcomed them affably.†   (source)
  • Then he would turn smooth as silk, affable, urbane, and try to win her so.†   (source)
  • One day when the grocer had shown less affability, he came home in a tearing rage.†   (source)
  • Never at any time did there seem to be any confusion between them as to whom Shreve meant by 'he') "—listening courteous and quiet behind that expression which you were not supposed to see past, asking at last, interrupting maybe, courteous and affable—nothing of irony, nothing of sarcasm— 'What did you say this college was?†   (source)
  • He calls me back again and affably gives me to understand that for once he is pleased to put mercy before justice.†   (source)
  • Whenever I met a person whom I suspected of being a Communist, I talked to him affably but from an emotional distance.†   (source)
  • He was quite affable now.†   (source)
  • There was never any knowing when he would remark affably, over a punch cup: "Ralph, if I'd had any sense I'd have made my money selling gold-mine stocks to widows and orphans, like you, instead of blockading.†   (source)
  • His expression is fixed in a salesman's winning smile of self-confident affability and hearty good fellowship.†   (source)
  • There he was able to see the celebrities in their furs or stetsons and alpacunas, going free in the midst of their toted luggage, always more proud or more melancholy or more affable or more lined than they were represented.†   (source)
  • The usually upturned, affable lines of his face either curved the other way now, downward, or where not curved were sharp, wedge-shaped at the eyes and mouth.†   (source)
  • There were the business-like, with their little bags; there were the drifters rattling sticks upon area railings; there were affable characters to whom the streets serve for clubroom, hailing men in carts and giving information without being asked for it.†   (source)
  • To the grocer he was all affability; no one could take more pains than he to show his interest in the tobacconist's gossip.†   (source)
  • My wife was adept in achieving such small advantages, first impressing the impressionable with her chic and my celebrity and, superiority once firmly established, changing quickly to a pose of almost flirtatious affability.†   (source)
  • In fact, as it soon turned out, he was not only affable, but very appreciative and very polite and commended in very warm tones the wine and the cake that was served with it, the neatness of the house as compared to his landlady's and finally congratulated David's father on having so excellent a wife.†   (source)
  • By now the tenants were his enemies, led by the red-headed Polish barber Betzhevski, who had given mandolin concerts on the sidewalk in affable days, and now glared with raw winter eyes when he passed in front of Einhorn's plate glass.†   (source)
  • He examined the charge sheets, spoke affably to the men who had made the arrest; with the slightest perceptible nuance he opened the way for bribery and quickly covered it when he saw that things had now lasted too long and the knowledge had been too widely shared; he undertook to deliver us at the magistrate's court at ten next morning, and then led us away.†   (source)
  • "Good night to you," said Sir Ector affably, when the old lady recovered herself enough to drop him a curtsey.†   (source)
  • Conversation during the meal would have languished more than once but for the tact and affability of the Chinese; now, in his absence, a rather unhappy silence supervened.†   (source)
  • Opposite the doorway of the wagon, he smiled affably, widely, yellow butts of his teeth circled on top like bitten grains of corn.†   (source)
  • The American grinned affably.†   (source)
  • His speech was very slow and level, his whole attitude tolerant and attentive, and because of this and because of the permanent wreathing of his features, he gave one the impression of great affability and good nature.†   (source)
  • When I overtook them and stopped to say a word, I found them affable and confiding.†   (source)
  • She seldom abbreviated the girl's name, and when she did so it was always a sign of affability.†   (source)
  • He was very friendly, affable, busy, kind.†   (source)
  • It's outa sight," he said, parenthetically, with an affable grin.†   (source)
  • [He nods affably to Malone and goes out through the little gate in the paling].†   (source)
  • The doctor smiled with a contemptuous affability that said: "What's to be done?†   (source)
  • He was always smiling, affable, and polite.†   (source)
  • There was in Tredgold's affable eye a sardonic flicker.†   (source)
  • Whereupon Belknap arose, and in a courtly and affable manner, stated: "The defendant is ready."†   (source)
  • He was the more affable on the surface as secretly he became more apprehensive, felt more hollow.†   (source)
  • "You want to get some New York experience," concluded the affable Mrs. Bermudez.†   (source)
  • "You're very kind," said Carrie, touched by the agent's extreme affability.†   (source)
  • Very affably: "Gosh, we must try to keep down expenses this year."†   (source)
  • "So long," said the other, smiling affably and going on.†   (source)
  • "Why, hello, Charles," he called affably; "back again?"†   (source)
  • "Charlie, you are neglecting a part of your duty," he observed to Drouet most affably.†   (source)
  • "Oh, that don't matter," said the other affably.†   (source)
  • "Well, now, Miss Madenda," he said, very affably, as Carrie thought, "you go over there."†   (source)
  • Say, goddess, what ensued, when Raphael, The affable archangel ….†   (source)
  • 'Do you, sir!' said Mrs. Sparsit, with great affability.†   (source)
  • I went up to her, and was received with an affable kiss and shake of the hand.†   (source)
  • Having made this promise with much affability, he retired and left Kate alone.†   (source)
  • The affability of Matvy Ilyitch's demeanour could only be equalled by its dignity.†   (source)
  • He stood before her; he had lost his affable smile and wore a look of almost military resolution.†   (source)
  • M. de Bellegarde was affable, but in spite of his dignity he was restless.†   (source)
  • Pyotr Petrovitch went on, glancing affably at Zossimov.†   (source)
  • Those venerable personages in the coop, too, seem very affably disposed.†   (source)
  • This occasion shall not entirely pass without that affability on your part.†   (source)
  • That clearing from his eyes, he becomes courteous and of an affable heart.†   (source)
  • Pyotr Petrovitch began with great dignity, though affably.†   (source)
  • "Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him—just as affable to the poor."†   (source)
  • The governor was a brisk little man, very simple and affable.†   (source)
  • 'Do I follow you?' said Mrs. Micawber, with her most affable air of business.†   (source)
  • The three young men bowed to each other courteously, if not affably.†   (source)
  • But he was ready for any affable conversation as soon as his host should begin it.†   (source)
  • There is not much affability in her tone.†   (source)
  • He had an affable and haughty air, and a mouth which was always smiling, since it did not shut.†   (source)
  • She is all affability, goodness, sweetness, and beauty.'†   (source)
  • He was a white-bearded and affable elder, used to entertaining strangers.†   (source)
  • A few of these took affable possession of the establishment.†   (source)
  • "And our Minister seems a most delightful and affable person," our new friend said.†   (source)
  • Alexander was saying something affable to him.†   (source)
  • 'And whom didst thou worship within?' said Kim affably, squatting in the shade beside the lama.†   (source)
  • He was crisp, fresh, cheerful, affable, bland; but so surprisingly innocent.†   (source)
  • I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen.†   (source)
  • In his affable unconsciousness, however, he took no heed.†   (source)
  • But the Grand Duke was a pleasant, affable sort of royalty, like the late King Edward VII, and it was pleasant to hear him talk about the races and, very occasionally, as a bonne bouche, about his nephew, the Emperor; or to have him pause for a moment in his walk to ask after the progress of our cures or to be benignantly interested in the amount of money we had put on Leloeffel's hunter for the Frankfurt Welter Stakes.†   (source)
  • Mr. van der Luyden greeted Mrs. Archer with cousinly affability, proffered to Newland low-voiced congratulations couched in the same language as his wife's, and seated himself in one of the brocade armchairs with the simplicity of a reigning sovereign.†   (source)
  • They looked affable.†   (source)
  • An affable advance—a vague murmur that they must see more of each other—an allusive glance to a near future that was felt to include the Duchess as well as the Sabrina—how easily it was all done, if one possessed the knack of doing it!†   (source)
  • "Gee! ain't it hot, hey?" he said affably to a man who was polishing his streaming face with his coat sleeves.†   (source)
  • She was affable to-night.†   (source)
  • …have no real need of him, that he will cease to be invited to the house sooner than they will be dismissed from it; who, on the other hand, cling with most fidelity to those masters and mistresses who have tested and proved their real capacity, and do not look for that superficial responsiveness, that slavish affability, which may impress a stranger favourably, but often conceals an utter barrenness of spirit in which no amount of training can produce the least trace of individuality.†   (source)
  • Such affability is seldom seen.†   (source)
  • A couple of minutes later the door opened again and the affable voice of Gania cried: "Come in please, prince!"†   (source)
  • She was affable, vain, subject to flattery, and this combination, he knew quite well, might produce a tragedy in a woman of her home position.†   (source)
  • Hans Castorp was quick to abandon his uneasy, half-defiant attitude; he stopped drumming on his comforter and turned back to his guest with confused affability.†   (source)
  • 'tis well known, a big nose is indicative Of a soul affable, and kind, and courteous, Liberal, brave, just like myself, and such As you can never dare to dream yourself, Rascal contemptible!†   (source)
  • And yet, finding Short so very affable and helpful in general, he was not above reaching at least an easy and genial surface relationship with him, which Short appeared to accept in good part.†   (source)
  • Philip filled her glass, hoping that champagne would make her more affable; he was anxious that his little jaunt should be a success.†   (source)
  • He was particularly affable to grandmother, and whenever they met he would begin at once to talk about 'the good old times' and simple living.†   (source)
  • Mrs. Westlake was affable.†   (source)
  • The fact of Madame Olenska's "foreignness" could hardly have been more adroitly emphasised than by this farewell tribute; and Mrs. van der Luyden accepted her displacement with an affability which left no doubt as to her approval.†   (source)
  • When, at nine o'clock, or so, this evening, I arrived and was shown up to him with great ceremony, he first received me with astonishment, and not too affably, but he soon cheered up, and suddenly gazed intently at me and burst out laughing.†   (source)
  • The secretary was a pleasant little man with a black beard, whom Philip had always found very affable.†   (source)
  • However, those who had met him at the Trumbulls' were so much impressed by her interest in him that evening and the fact that he had proved so pleasing and affable, they in turn, the girls particularly, were satisfied that he was eligible enough.†   (source)
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