McCain does not always use the word "friend" in a friendly spirit; this time, though, he sounded perfectly amiable.

"It ain't anything worse than an issue of Penthouse," he said, attempting to sound amiable, if not apologetic.

"Even if someone is only half-conscious when speaking against the Prophet, he must die," said Mr. Qasmi, who managed to sound amiable.

He was inordinately pleased that she'd called, inordinately pleased that she sounded amiable, given the way they'd last parted.

You don't know what you may run into, even though they sounded amiable enough," said McCoy, as Kirk stepped on to the platform.

Jack said, making an effort to sound amiable.

Mr. Ben has a rough-hewn, husky baritone that sounds amiable without a show of virtuosity; he scat-sang percussive sounds and even rapped in Portuguese.

'The boss, sounds very amiable.'

While his voice sounds as amiable as ever, the bombast grows overbearing.

He sounded more amiable than before, more inclined to be helpful.