Cordial
Sincere and warm
adjectiveCordial
Sincere and warm
adjectiveImagine This
After the New Year's Eve dinner, many guests were extremely happy and welcomed each other (again!) because they drank too much cordial. How friendly!
Sounds Like
KOR-dee-uhl
Looks Like
Cordial → a sweetened liquor
Remember This
Cordial comes from Latin cordialis meaning 'of the heart' (cor, cord- = heart). The word also exists as a noun for a sweet liqueur; keep the adjective sense separate from the drink.
Other Forms
Connect With
warmth, geniality, affability, friendliness
Note
In modern usage, cordial primarily means warmth or friendliness in manner. Do not confuse with the noun form referring to the drink; use 'cordial' as a noun when you mean the liqueur, or specify the drink type if needed.
Study Deeper
- The host gave a cordial welcome to all guests.
- Her cordial demeanor helped ease the tension in the room.
From Latin cordialis ‘of the heart,’ from cor, cord- ‘heart’. The sense develops from 'heartfelt' to the adjective meaning warm and friendly.
Think of cord as heart: cordial = heart-felt warmth. Visualize a host opening their heart to guests with a warm welcome.
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