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Affection

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. 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.

6. (Science: medicine) Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection.

7. The lively representation of any emotion.

8. Affectation. Spruce affection.

9. Passion; violent emotion. Most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend. (Spenser)

Synonym: attachment, passion, tenderness, fondness, kindness, love, good will. See attachment, disease.

Origin: f. Affection, L. Affectio, fr. Afficere. See affect.