Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
affection
1.
The act of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected.
2.
(Philosophy)
An attribute, especially a contingent or alterable quality or property; a condition; a bodily state;
“The affections of quantity.” as, figure, weight, etc. , are
. affections
of bodiesBoyle.
And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less,
An old and strange
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
; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency. affections
, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections
, hatred, envy, etc.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.
AS
7.
The lively representation of any emotion.
Wotton.
8.
Affectation.
[Obs.]
“Spruce affection.” Shak.
9.
Passion; violent emotion.
[Obs.]
Most wretched man,
That to
That to
affections
does the bridle lend. Spenser.
Syn. – Attachment; passion; tenderness; fondness; kindness; love; liking; good will. See
Attachment
; Disease
. Webster 1828 Edition
Affection
AFFEC'TION
,Noun.
1.
The state of being affected. [Little used.]2.
Passion; but more generally,3.
A bent of mind towards a particular object, holding a middle place between disposition, which is natural, and passion, which is excited by the presence of its exciting object. Affection is a permanent bent of the mind, formed by the presence of an object, or by some act of another person, and existing without the presence of its object.4.
In a more particular sense, a settle good will, love or zealous attachment; as, the affection of a parent for his child. It was formerly followed by to or towards, but is now more generally followed by far.5.
Desire; inclination; propensity, good or evil; as, virtuous or vile affections. Rom. 1. Gal. 5.6.
In a general sense, an attribute, quality or property, which is inseparable from its object; as, love, fear and hope are affections of the mind; figure, weight, &c., are affections of bodies.7.
Among physicians, a disease, or any particular morbid state of the body; as, a gouty affection; hysteric affection.8.
In painting, a lively representation of passion.Shakespeare uses the word for affectation; but this use is not legitimate.