CORDIAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does cordial mean? 

• CORDIAL (noun)
  The noun CORDIAL has 1 sense:

1. strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal

  Familiarity information: CORDIAL used as a noun is very rare.

• CORDIAL (adjective)
  The adjective CORDIAL has 3 senses:

1. diffusing warmth and friendliness

2. politely warm and friendly

3. sincerely or intensely felt

  Familiarity information: CORDIAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CORDIAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

cordial; liqueur

Hypernyms ("cordial" is a kind of...):

alcohol; alcoholic beverage; alcoholic drink; inebriant; intoxicant (a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cordial"):

Drambuie (a sweet Scotch whisky liqueur)

sambuca (an Italian liqueur made with elderberries and flavored with licorice)

ratafee; ratafia (sweet liqueur made from wine and brandy flavored with plum or peach or apricot kernels and bitter almonds)

pousse-cafe (small drink served after dinner (especially several liqueurs poured carefully so as to remain in separate layers))

Pernod ((registered trademark) a liqueur flavored with anise)

pastis (similar to absinthe but containing no wormwood)

maraschino; maraschino liqueur (distilled from fermented juice of bitter wild marasca cherries)

kummel (liqueur flavored with caraway seed or cumin)

orange liqueur (liqueur flavored with orange)

Galliano (golden Italian liqueur flavored with herbs)

absinth; absinthe (strong green liqueur flavored with wormwood and anise)

creme de fraise (strawberry-flavored liqueur)

creme de menthe (sweet green or white mint-flavored liqueur)

creme de cacao (sweet liqueur flavored with vanilla and cacao beans)

coffee liqueur (coffee-flavored liqueur)

Chartreuse (aromatic green or yellow liqueur flavored with orange peel and hyssop and peppermint oils; made at monastery near Grenoble, France)

benedictine (a French liqueur originally made by Benedictine monks)

anisette; anisette de Bordeaux (liquorice-flavored usually colorless sweet liqueur made from aniseed)

amaretto (an Italian almond liqueur)

• CORDIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Diffusing warmth and friendliness

Synonyms:

affable; amiable; cordial; genial

Context example:

a genial host

Similar:

friendly (characteristic of or befitting a friend)

Derivation:

cordiality (a cordial disposition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Politely warm and friendly

Context example:

a cordial handshake

Similar:

warm (psychologically warm; friendly and responsive)

Derivation:

cordiality (a cordial disposition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sincerely or intensely felt

Context example:

a cordial abhorrence of waste

Similar:

sincere (open and genuine; not deceitful)

 Context examples 

Amy spoke earnestly, and Jo said, with a cordial hug, I understand now what you mean, and I'll never laugh at you again.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Whenever I went out, I heard on all sides cordial salutations, and was welcomed with friendly smiles.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

We shook hands in a very cordial way; and I laughed and laughed, until I pulled out my pocket-handkerchief and wiped my eyes.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The man at the desk in the library had seen Martin there so often that he had become quite cordial, always greeting him with a smile and a nod when he entered.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I welcomed my friend, therefore, in the most cordial manner, and we walked towards my college.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

To me he was cordial and kind, saying nothing of my escapade either in the way of blame or praise.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Very much grieved and concerned—I had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordial as I knew had been given her in the morning.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Never had Fanny more wanted a cordial.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)