Main Entry:

af·fec·tion

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈfek-shən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French affection, from Latin affection-, affectio, from afficere

Date:

13th century

1: a moderate feeling or emotion2: tender attachment : fondness <she had a deep affection for her parents>3 a (1): a bodily condition (2): disease, malady b: attribute <shape and weight are affections of bodies>4obsolete : partiality, prejudice5: the feeling aspect (as in pleasure) of consciousness6 a: propensity, disposition barchaic : affectation 17: the action of affecting : the state of being affected

synonyms see feeling

— af·fec·tion·less \-ləs\ adjective