WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Af*fec"tion
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F. affection, L. affectio, fr. afficere. See Affect.]
Definition : 1. The act of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected.

2. An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state; as, figure, weight, etc. , are affections of bodies. "The affections of quantity." Boyle. And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less, An old and strange affection of the house. Tennyson.

3. 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. Affection is applicable to an unpleasant as well as a pleasant state of the mind, when impressed by any object or quality. Cogan.

4. A settled good will; kind feeling; love; zealous or tender attachment; -- often in the pl. Formerly followed by to, but now more generally by for or towards; as, filial, social, or conjugal affections; to have an affection for or towards children. All his affections are set on his own country. Macaulay.

5. Prejudice; bias. [Obs.] Bp. Aylmer.

6. (Med.)

Defn: Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection. Dunglison.

7. The lively representation of any emotion. Wotton.

8. Affectation. [Obs.] "Spruce affection." Shak.

9. Passion; violent emotion. [Obs.] Most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend. Spenser.

Syn. -- Attachment; passion; tenderness; fondness; kindness; love; good will. See Attachment; Disease.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913