affection

af·fec·tion

noun \ə-ˈfek-shən\

Definition of AFFECTION

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

— af·fec·tion·less \-ləs\ adjective

Examples of AFFECTION

1. She has deep affection for her parents.
2. He shows great affection for his grandchildren.
3. feelings of love and affection
4. He now looks back on those years with great affection.
5. She developed a deep affection for that country and its people.

Origin of AFFECTION

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to AFFECTION

Synonyms: love, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passion

Antonyms: abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor

Related Words: appetite, fancy, favor, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, taste; craving, crush, desire, infatuation, longing, lust, yearning; ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, fervor, zeal; appreciation, esteem, estimation, regard, respect; adoration, adulation, deification, idolatry, idolization, worship; allegiance, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness

Near Antonyms: allergy, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, disfavor, dislike, enmity, hostility; abhorrence, disgust, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; misanthropy

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at feeling

Rhymes with AFFECTION

abjection, advection, bisection, collection, complexion, confection, connection, convection, correction, cross section, C-section, defection, deflection, dejection, detection, direction, ejection, election, erection, infection, inflection, injection, inspection, midsection, objection, perfection, prelection, projection, protection, refection, reflection, rejection, resection, selection, subjection, subsection, trajection, transection, trisection