First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
affection
noun af·fec·tion \ə-ˈfek-shən\
: a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something
affections : feelings of love : a person's romantic feelings
Full Definition of AFFECTION
1
: a moderate feeling or emotion
2
: tender attachment : fondness <she had a deep affection for her parents>
3
4
obsolete : partiality, prejudice
5
: the feeling aspect (as in pleasure) of consciousness
6
a : propensity, disposition b archaic : affectation 1
See affection defined for English-language learners
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Origin of AFFECTION
Middle English, from Anglo-French affection, from Latin affection-, affectio, from afficere
Related to AFFECTION
- Synonyms
- love, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passion
- Antonyms
- abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor
Synonym Discussion of AFFECTION
feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it <the feelings that once moved me are gone>. emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses <the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence>. affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings <a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family>. sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea <her feminist sentiments are well known>. passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion <revenge became his ruling passion>.
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
AFFECTION Defined for Kids
affection
noun af·fec·tion \ə-ˈfek-shən\
Definition of AFFECTION for Kids
: a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something <He shows great affection for his grandchildren.>
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Next Word in the Dictionary: affectionalPrevious Word in the Dictionary: affectingAll Words Near: affection
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