cordiality

plural cordialities · alternative cordialness

1. uncountableThe quality of being cordial.

   Adam gave her—the spaniel, not Mrs. Florin—a gentle prod with his foot and a lump of sugar. She licked his shoe with evident cordiality. Adam was not above feeling flattered by friendliness in dogs.

   1930, Evelyn Waugh, chapter V, in Vile Bodies, New York: Back Bay Books, published 1999

   1 more example

   Upon my entrance, Usher rose from a sofa on which he had been lying at full length, and greeted me with a vivacious warmth which had much in it, I at first thought, of an overdone cordiality—of the constrained effort of the ennuyé man of the world.

   1839, Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher

   Synonyms: empressement, affability, amiability, friendliness, warmth

2. countableA friendly utterance.

   to exchange cordialities with people

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   Lucia rivalled these cordialities with equal fervour and about as much sincerity.

   1931, E. F. Benson, chapter 5, in Mapp and Lucia