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.) 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.
Affectional
(Af*fec"tion*al) a. Of or pertaining to the affections; as, affectional impulses; an affectional
nature.
Affectionate
(Af*fec"tion*ate) a. [Cf. F. affectionné.]
1. Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; as, an affectionate brother.
2. Kindly inclined; zealous. [Obs.] Johson.
Man, in his love God, and desire to please him, can never be too affectionate.
Sprat.
3. Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; affectionate
countenance, message, language.
4. Strongly inclined; — with to. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn. — Tender; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent.
