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.
© Webster 1913.