ETYM French amitié, Old Fren. amistié, amisté, from an assumed Late Lat. amisitas, from Latin amicus friendly, from amare to love. Related to Amiable.
1. A cordial disposition; SYN. cordiality.
2. A state of friendship and cordiality.
ETYM AS. freóndscipe. Related to Friend, and -ship.
The state of being friends; SYN. friendly relationship.
Mutual benevolence that is independent of sexual or family love. Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle distinguishes three levels of friendship: the useful (friendship as a common enterprise), the pleasant (friendship as entertaining companionship), and the good or virtuous (friendship as mutual esteem).