cordial

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cor·dial

(kôr′jəl)

adj.

a. Warm and sincere; friendly: a cordial welcome; very cordial relations.

b. Polite and respectful; formally pleasant: "He shook my hand, but not warmly; he was cordial, but not amiable" (Oliver Sacks).

2. Strongly felt; fervent: a cordial abhorrence of waste.

3. Archaic Invigorating; stimulating. Used especially of a beverage.

1. A liqueur.

2. An invigorating or medicinal drink; a tonic.

[Middle English, of the heart, from Medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cor, cord-, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots.]

cor·dial′i·ty (-jăl′ĭ-tē, -jē-ăl′-, -dē-ăl′-), cor′dial·ness n.

cor′dial·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cordial

(ˈkɔːdɪəl)

adj

1. warm and friendly: a cordial greeting.

2. giving heart; stimulating

3. (Brewing) a drink with a fruit base, usually sold in concentrated form and diluted with water before being drunk: lime cordial.

4. (Brewing) another word for liqueur

[C14: from Medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cor heart]

ˈcordially adv

ˈcordialness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cor•dial

(ˈkɔr dʒəl; esp. Brit. -di əl)

adj.

1. courteous and gracious; warm: a cordial reception.

2. invigorating the heart; stimulating.

3. sincere; heartfelt: a cordial dislike.

4. Archaic. of or pertaining to the heart.

5. a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor; liqueur.

6. a stimulating medicine.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin cordiālis= Latin cord-, s. of cor heart + -iālis -ial]

cor′dial•ly, adv.

cor′dial•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	cordial - strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal liqueur alcohol, alcoholic beverage, alcoholic drink, inebriant, intoxicant - a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; "alcohol (or drink) ruined him" absinth, absinthe - strong green liqueur flavored with wormwood and anise amaretto - an Italian almond liqueur anisette, anisette de Bordeaux - liquorice-flavored usually colorless sweet liqueur made from aniseed benedictine - a French liqueur originally made by Benedictine monks Chartreuse - aromatic green or yellow liqueur flavored with orange peel and hyssop and peppermint oils; made at monastery near Grenoble, France coffee liqueur - coffee-flavored liqueur creme de cacao - sweet liqueur flavored with vanilla and cacao beans creme de menthe - sweet green or white mint-flavored liqueur creme de fraise - strawberry-flavored liqueur Drambuie - a sweet Scotch whisky liqueur Galliano - golden Italian liqueur flavored with herbs orange liqueur - liqueur flavored with orange kummel - liqueur flavored with caraway seed or cumin maraschino, maraschino liqueur - distilled from fermented juice of bitter wild marasca cherries pastis - similar to absinthe but containing no wormwood Pernod - (registered trademark) a liqueur flavored with anise pousse-cafe - small drink served after dinner (especially several liqueurs poured carefully so as to remain in separate layers) ratafee, ratafia - sweet liqueur made from wine and brandy flavored with plum or peach or apricot kernels and bitter almonds sambuca - an Italian liqueur made with elderberries and flavored with licorice
Adj.	1.	cordial - diffusing warmth and friendliness; "an affable smile"; "an amiable gathering"; "cordial relations"; "a cordial greeting"; "a genial host" affable, genial, amiable friendly - characteristic of or befitting a friend; "friendly advice"; "a friendly neighborhood"; "the only friendly person here"; "a friendly host and hostess"
	2.	cordial - politely warm and friendly; "a cordial handshake" warm - psychologically warm; friendly and responsive; "a warm greeting"; "a warm personality"; "warm support"
	3.	cordial - sincerely or intensely felt; "a cordial regard for his visitor's comfort"; "a cordial abhorrence of waste" sincere - open and genuine; not deceitful; "he was a good man, decent and sincere"; "felt sincere regret that they were leaving"; "sincere friendship"

cordial

adjective

1. warm, welcoming, friendly, cheerful, affectionate, hearty, agreeable, sociable, genial, affable, congenial, warm-hearted I had never known him to be so chatty and cordial.
warm cold, reserved, formal, distant, aloof, unfriendly, frigid, ungracious

2. wholehearted, earnest, sincere, heartfelt She didn't bother to hide her cordial dislike of all things German.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

cordial

adjective

Pleasant and friendly in disposition:

affable, agreeable, amiable, congenial, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, pleasant, sociable, warm.

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

cordial

[ˈkɔːdɪəl]

A. ADJ → cordial, afectuoso

B. N (Brit) (= drink) → cordial m; (= liqueur) → licor m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

cordial

(ˈkorːdiəl) , ((American) ˈko:rdʒl) adjective

(of greetings etc) warm and affectionate. a cordial welcome.cordial

noun

a refreshing drink. lime juice cordial.refresco; licor

ˌcordiˈality (-ˈӕ-) noun

cordialidad

ˈcordially adverb

cordialmente

References in classic literature ?

But there's a bottle half full of raspberry cordial that was left over from the church social the other night.

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Thinking it might possibly be in the enjoyment of the elective franchise, he gave it a cordial and earnest grasp.

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"The sidewalk is hardly wide enough for three, so I will walk behind; but keep the talk going, keep the talk going, there's no time to lose, and you may be sure I will do my share." He ranged himself behind us, and straightway that stately snow-white young fellow closed up to the sidewalk alongside him, fetched him a cordial slap on the shoulder with his broad palm, and sung out with a hearty cheeriness:

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I could not be cordial in my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part will keep her away.

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As I feel that the opportunities which I enjoyed of studying the Natural History of the different countries we visited, have been wholly due to Captain Fitz Roy, I hope I may here be permitted to repeat my expression of gratitude to him; and to add that, during the five years we were together, I received from him the most cordial friendship and steady assistance.

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The little lith e man, with his bright, restless eyes, and his long iron-gray hair falling in curls to his shoulders, his airy step and his cordial manner; his uncertain age, his innumerable accomplishments, and his unbounded popularity--is he not familiar everywhere, and welcome everywhere?

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He would not let her get up to dinner, but fed her himself, and then forgot his own while he sat watching her fall into a drowse, for Aunt Plenty's cordial made her sleepy.

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Several cordials was likewise prescribed in the same ineffective manner; till the landlord ordered up a tankard of strong beer, with a toast, which he said was the best cordial in England.

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The two friends, after a cordial pressure of the hands, separated.

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Her Language was neither warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard were neither animated nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive me to her Heart, tho' my own were extended to press her to mine.

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As I entered he rose to greet me, his old-time cordial smile of welcome lighting his handsome face.

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When she heard of his arrival she almost ran into the drawing room, flushed and beaming with a more than cordial smile.