Intriguing the connection, that friendly banter is the character of the affable. How often does one counter silence with the sense of the unfriendly…and untoward?

affable \AF-uh-bul\ adjective

1 : being pleasant and at ease in talking to others
2 : characterized by ease and friendliness

“Affable” is one of several English words that evolved from the Latin verb “fari,” which means “to speak.” “Affable” comes from the Latin “affabilis,” which comes from the “fari” relative “affari” (“to speak to”), plus “-abilis,” meaning “able.”

Some other “fari” derivatives are “infant,” “fable,” and “fate.” “Infant” comes from the Latin “infans,” which means “incapable of speech” and combines “in-” and “fans,” the present participle of “fari.” “Fable” comes from the Latin “fabula,” a “fari” offspring that means “conversation.” “Fate” comes from the Latin word “fatum,” meaning “what has been spoken” and deriving from “fatus,” a past participle of “fari.”

I’ll try to talk a lot today.

T. > Arizona and Nevada, outbound, this morning…