Companionably

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a warm, friendly way that shows good fellowship and easy sociability toward others
2. With the pleasant ease of people who enjoy each other's company and get along well
3. Sociably and amiably, as a companion would behave when keeping someone pleasant company

Etymology: "Companionably" is an adverb built from "companionable" plus the suffix "-ly". The adjective "companionable" is formed from "companion" plus "-able", so the word stacks three layers of ancient material. "Companion" came into English through Middle English from Old French "compaignon", which was itself based on Late Latin "compāniō", a noun meaning someone who shares bread. It is built from Latin "com-", meaning "with", and "pānis", meaning "bread", a picture of people breaking bread together. The suffix "-able" passed into English through Old French "-able", which came from Latin "-ābilis" and "-bilis", both signalling that something can be done or has a certain quality. English added it to "companion" to form "companionable", meaning fit for companionship, and then attached the Old English-derived suffix "-ly" to make the adverb. That suffix descends from a Germanic word for "body" or "form", which is why it has come to mean "in the manner of".

Synonyms: sociably, amiably, genially, cordially

Antonyms: unsociably, aloofly