Agreeableness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to get along with
2. A disposition marked by warmth, kindness, and a cooperative nature
3. The state of showing goodwill, amiability, and a gentle demeanor

Etymology: "Agreeableness" is a plain English compound: the adjective "agreeable" with the suffix "-ness" attached, turning a quality into a noun. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, descending from Old English "-nes" and ultimately from a Proto-Germanic form, but it was productive throughout the history of English, which is why coining a noun like this from almost any adjective has always been straightforward. The adjective "agreeable" is the more interesting half. It came into English from Old French "agreable," meaning pleasing or willing to accept, built on "agreer" (to please). Its sense shifted over time from "pleasing" in a general way to the modern idea of a person who is easy to get along with. The pairing with "-ness" is what lets English talk about that disposition as a thing in itself, the way a quality can be measured or admired.

Synonyms: pleasantness, amiability, friendliness, likability, sociability

Antonyms: disagreeableness, unfriendliness, hostility, antipathy, discontent