Affection

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ʌˈfÉ›kʃən/
• Rhymes: -É›kʃən

Origin

From French affection, from Latin affectionem, from affectio; see affect.

Full definition of affection

Noun

1. The act of affecting or acting upon.
2. The state of being affected.
3. An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state; as, figure, weight, etc., are affections of bodies.
4. Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent affections, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.
• 2013-08-23, Mark Cocker, Wings of Desire, Our affections for wild animals are distributed very unevenly. Take insects. Some 750,000 species have already been documented worldwide and the great American naturalist EO Wilson called them "the little things that run the world". Through their recycling of nutrients and the supply of base-level protein to a vast array of higher life forms, insects underpin the existence of life on this planet. Yet when it comes to human concern for creepy-crawlies, forget it.
5. A feeling of love or strong attachment.
• 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Chapter 61Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected.
6. (medicine, archaic) Disease; morbid symptom; malady.
• Dunglisona pulmonary affection

Synonyms

• (kind feeling) attachment, fondness, kindness, love, passion, tenderness

Usage notes

In the sense of "feeling of love or strong attachment", it is often in the plural; formerly followed by "to", but now more generally by "for" or "toward(s)", for example filial, social, or conjugal affections; to have an affection for or towards children

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

1. to feel an affection, emotion or love for.