3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Affection  \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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  affection 
  n  :  a  positive  feeling  of  liking;  "he  had  trouble  expressing  the 
  affection  he  felt";  "the  child  won  everyone's  heart" 
  [syn:  {affectionateness},  {fondness},  {tenderness},  {heart}, 
  {warmheartedness}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Affection 
  feeling  or  emotion.  Mention  is  made  of  "vile  affections"  (Rom. 
  1:26)  and  "inordinate  affection"  (Col.  3:5).  Christians  are 
  exhorted  to  set  their  affections  on  things  above  (Col.  3:2). 
  There  is  a  distinction  between  natural  and  spiritual  or  gracious 
  affections  (Ezek.  33:32). 
 

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