[ad. (directly or through Fr. affectation, 16th c. in Litt.) L. affectātiōn-em a pursuit after, an aspiring to, f. affectā-re: see AFFECT v.1 Sense 6 is a direct adoption of one sense of Fr. affectation. See AFFECT v.2 5.]
† 1. A striving after, aiming at; a desire to obtain, earnest pursuit. Const. of. Obs.
1549. Sir W. Paget, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1816), II. 295. His opinion to be good to the poor, and affectation of the good word of the commons.
1608–11. Bp. Hall, Medit. (1627), III. 95. To be caried away with an affectation of fame is so vaine and absurd.
1617. J. Rider, Affectation, a curious desire of a thing which nature has not given, Affectatio.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 293. Pretended sedition and affectation of the crown.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 6, ¶ 4. The Affectation of being Gay and in Fashion, has very nearly eaten up our Good Sense and our Religion.
† 2. Inclination towards, affection, liking, fondness (of). Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 390. No conscience of religion can avert the monstrous love of delights from the affectation of men.
1641. Ld. Brooke, Disc. Nat. Episc., I. ii. 4. If a Minister once come to lose the heart and affectations of his people.
1795. Gibbon, Autobiogr., in Misc. Wks. (1814), I. 115. Nor was I displeased at her preference and affectation of the manners, the language, and the literature of France.
3. A displayed or ostentatious fondness for; studied display of.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr., 371. Affectation of eloquence.
1600. B. Jonson, Cynthia Rev., V. i. 6. The affectation Of an enforc’d, and form’d austeritie.
1686. Dryden, Hind & P., I. 395. Affectation of an ancient line.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxv. 80. It was not an affectation of showing my reading.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. (Routl.), 29. His dress … was rich and elegant, but without any affectation of ornament.
1861. T. Wright, Ess. Archæol., II. xiv. 60. This affectation of Latin reached its greatest height in … the reign of James I.
4. Artificial or non-natural assumption of behavior; artificiality (of manner); putting on of airs.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s Teares, 2 a. The superfluous affectation of my prophane puft vp phrase.
1598. Shaks., Merry Wives, I. i. 152. What phrase is this, He heares with eare? Why, it is affectations.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (1869), 63. Hee must abhorre all affectations, all forced postures and complements.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xxii. 616. His simplicity was not exempt from affectation.
1827. Carlyle, Misc., I. 10. The essence of affectation is that it be assumed.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, iii. 29. Her pretty affectations of petulance.
5. As that which is artificial is often unreal, this passes imperceptibly into, Unreal assumption; hollow or false display; simulation, pretence.
1581. Sidney, Def. Poesie (1622), 527. That hony-flowing matron Eloquence, apparelled, or rather disguised in a curtisan-like painted affectation.
1625. Bacon, Ess., xxxviii. (1862), 160. A Mans Nature is best perceived in Privatenesse, for there is no Affectation.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 20, ¶ 1. Affectation, or a perpetual disguise of the real character by fictitious appearances.
1866. J. Martineau, Ess., I. 191. Their profession … becomes an empty affectation.
1873. Buckle, Civiliz., III. v. 321. Some people affect to carry on trade for the good of others; but this is mere affectation.
† 6. Special application, destination or attribution. Obs. rare.
1611. Cotgr., Nantissement … a publicke, or legall affectation, fastening, appointing, or pointing out of one thing for the securitie or indemnitie of another.
