affection1

[uh-fek-shuh n] /əˈfɛk ʃən/
noun
1.
fond attachment, devotion, or love:
the affection of a parent for an only child.
2.
Often, affections.
  1. emotion; feeling; sentiment:
    over and above our reason and affections.
  2. the emotional realm of love:
    a place in his affections.
3.
Pathology. a disease, or the condition of being diseased; abnormal state of body or mind:
a gouty affection.
4.
the act of affecting; act of influencing or acting upon.
5.
the state of being affected.
6.
Philosophy. a contingent, alterable, and accidental state or quality of being.
7.
the affective aspect of a mental process.
8.
bent or disposition of mind.
9.
Obsolete. bias; prejudice.
Origin
1200-50; Middle English < Old French < Latin affectiōn- (stem of affectiō) disposition or state of mind or body; see affect1, -ion
Related forms
affectionless, adjective
Synonyms
1. liking, friendliness, amity, fondness, friendship. See love.
Antonyms
1. dislike.

affection2

[uh-fek-shuh n] /əˈfɛk ʃən/
noun, Obsolete
1.
affectation (defs 1–3).
Origin
1525-35; affect2 + -ion
Examples from the web for affection
  • It did encourage kindness and affection, but it simultaneously encouraged cruelty and hatred.
  • Love is not a science, it is a feeling of affection.
  • Cats yawn to show affection.
  • He remained the object of Elizabeth's affection all the same.
  • Music does a pretty good job of expressing affection, amorous intention, and other feelings that can be screwed up by mere words.
  • Wells patted his heart, a traditional sign of affection.
  • Despite his faults, you see, I retain a sort of exasperated affection for the fellow.
  • The affection seems to be mutual.
  • Our affection grows as an object looks more human.
  • This kind of behavior is often not at all about affection.
British Dictionary definitions for affection

affection

/əˈfɛkʃən/
noun
1.
a feeling of fondness or tenderness for a person or thing; attachment
2.
(often pl) emotion, feeling, or sentiment: to play on a person's affections
3.
(pathol) any disease or pathological condition
4.
(psychol) any form of mental functioning that involves emotion See also affect1 (sense 2)
5.
the act of affecting or the state of being affected
6.
(archaic) inclination or disposition
Derived Forms
affectional, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Latin affectiōn- disposition, from afficere to affect1
Word Origin and History for affection
n.

early 13c., "an emotion of the mind, passion, lust as opposed to reason," from Old French afection (12c.) "emotion, inclination, disposition; love, attraction, enthusiasm," from Latin affectionem (nominative affectio) "a relation, disposition; a temporary state; a frame, constitution," noun of state from past participle stem of afficere "to do something to, act on" (see affect (n.)). Sense developed from "disposition" to "good disposition toward" (late 14c.). Related: Affections.

affection in Medicine

affection af·fec·tion (ə-fěk'shən)
n.

  1. A tender feeling toward another; fondness.

  2. A bodily condition; disease.

affection in the Bible

feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).