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 emotion
2 : 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>
4 obsolete : partiality, prejudice
5 : the feeling aspect (as in pleasure) of consciousness
6 a : propensity, disposition b archaic : affectation 1
7 : the action of affecting : the state of being affected

synonyms see feeling

— af·fec·tion·less \-ləs\ adjective