Af*fec"tion (&?;), n.
[F. affection, L. affectio, fr. afficere. See Affect.]
1. The act
of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected.
2. An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state; as, figure, weight, etc. , are
affections of bodies. "The affections of quantity." Boyle.
And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less,
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
affections, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.
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.
7. The lively representation
of any emotion. Wotton.
8. Affectation.
[Obs.] "Spruce affection." Shak.
9. Passion; violent emotion.
[Obs.]
Most wretched man,
That to affections does the bridle lend.
Spenser.
Syn. -- Attachment; passion; tenderness; fondness; kindness; love; good will. See Attachment; Disease.
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