Forms: 3 affectiun, 4–5 affectioun, affeccyone, affeccoun, affeccioun, affecsioun, 5–6 affectione, 6– affection. [a. Fr. affection, an early ad. L. affectiōn-em disposition, inclination, fondness, f. affic-ĕre: see AFFECT v.2]
I. Generally and literally.
1. The action of affecting, acting upon, or influencing; or (when viewed passively) the fact of being affected.
1660. T. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 134/2. Whether the same affection hapneth to any one, and to him that is next him from white, neither is he able to say.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 28. There is no difference in the manner of their being affected, nor in the causes of the affection.
1794. J. Hutton, Philos. Light, etc., 11. The reciprocal affection of those bodies.
1846. Mill, Logic, I. iii. § 4 (1868), 57. Besides the affection of our bodily organs from without.
1879. Carpenter, Ment. Physiol., I. v. 186. The spots of the retina by the affection of which they are produced.
II. Of the mind.
2. An affecting or moving of the mind in any way; a mental state brought about by any influence; an emotion or feeling.
c. 1230. Ancren Riwle, 288. Þreo degrez beoð þerinne [in carnal desire] þe uorme is cogitaciun: Þe oðer is affectiun; þe þridde is kunsence.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., 1518. Withouten any other affeccioun Of love, or any other ymaginacioun.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 146. A man … is subiecte to inmeasurable affections.
1625. trans. Gonsalvius’s Sp. Inquis., 1. Accompany the outward motions of the players, with some inward affection.
1723. Blackall, Wks., I. 70. Mercy … is an affection of the Mind.
1764. Reid, Inq. Hum. Mind, ii. § 9. 112. The smell of a rose is a certain affection or feeling of the mind.
1878. J. P. Hopps, Rel. & Mor. Lect., xvii. 53. It is simply impossible to reveal anything to a human being except through his reason, his conscience, or his affections.
b. The representation of feeling or emotion.
1624. Wotton, Archit., 88 (J.). Affection is the Liuely Representment, of any passion whatsoeuer, as if the Figures stood not vpon a Cloth or Boorde, but as if they were acting vpon a Stage.
† 3. esp. Feeling as opposed to reason; passion, lust. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. vi. (1495), 53. Affeccions ben foure Joye Hope Drede and Sorowe.
1567. Triall of Treas. (1850), 4. Slaues to their lustes and affection.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 34. Most wretched man, That to Affections does the bridle lend!
1611. Bible, Rom. i. 26. For this cause God gaue them vp vnto vile affections.
1643. Milton, Soveraigne Salve, 25. A will over-ruled by enormous affections or passions.
1681. Hobbes, Rhetor., i. 1. Anger, Envy, Fear, Pity or other Affections.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 357. Over and above our reason and affections.
† 4. State of mind generally, mental tendency; disposition. Obs. in general sense.
1540. Whitinton, Tully’s Offyces, III. 125. Suche affection of mynde, that I do no man wronge bycause of my profyte.
1622. Fotherby, Atheom., II. viii. § 1. 279. Good Affections, which are præparatiues vnto Vertue.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 34. Let the affection be what it will in appearance, if it does not make us shun such objects.
5. esp. State of the mind towards a thing; disposition towards, bent, inclination, penchant. arch.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 162. To þat sollempnite com lordes of renoun, Þat weddyng forto se, for grete affectioun.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., 793. This Tesbe hath so grete affeccioun, And so grete lykynge Piramus to see. Ibid. (c. 1386), Melibeus, 284. Ye have schewed to youre counseilours … youre affeccioun to Make werre.
1481. Caxton, Myrrour, I. v. 20. It was all their affeccion, intencion and reson to knowe god.
1549. Compl. Scotl., x. 83. The inglismen exponis the prophesye of merlyne to there auen affectione.
1561. T. N[orton], trans. Calvin’s Instit., II. 125. Where anger or hatred is, there is an affection to hurt.
1604. Rowlands, Looke to It, 10. Lawyers that wrest the Law to your affection.
1625. Bacon, Ess., vii. (1862), 25. If the Affection or Aptnesse of the Children, be Extraordinary, then it is good, not to crosse it.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, Ep. Ded. 2. A few good reaches and affections after holinesse are not enough for us.
1762. Kames, Elem. Critic. (1833), 483. Affection, signifying a settled bent of the mind toward a particular being or thing.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iii. 69. The two desires … are in fact bound up with each other in one affection, and make but one affection between them.
6. Good disposition towards, goodwill, kind feeling, love, fondness, loving attachment.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. xiv. 37. Nychanore … that for affeccioun, or loue, was clepid fadre of Jewis.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., 1421. Made he to Jason Gret chiere of love & of affeccioun.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Affeccyon, or hertyly wellwyllynge, Affectio.
1488. Caxton, Chastysing of Goddes Chyldern, xxiii. 61. Affeccion is a wylfull bowyng or enclinyng of a mannys hert with loue to a nother man.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 175. Cl. How know you he loues her? Iohn. I heard him sweare his affection.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 6. The Church of Rome would seeme at the length to beare a motherly affection towards her children.
1698. J. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 289. To love one another, with the most Heroic and Divine Affection.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX. v. (1840), 135. We are no sooner in love than it becomes our principal care to engage the affection of the object beloved.
1868. Geo. Eliot, Felix H., 22. Affection and satisfied pride would again warm her later years.
b. esp. in pl.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 112. Did you … Subdue, and poyson this yong Maides affections?
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journey (1778), II. 26. I never had my affections more tenderly awakened.
1851. Chalmers, Lett., in Life (1815), II. 11. Give my kindest affections to my father, mother, and family.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. (Routl.), 19. In the society of one who was now the chief object of his affections.
† 7. Feeling against, animosity. Obs.
1485. Caxton, Chas. the Gt., 44. And he cometh rennyng agenst me wyth affectyon mortal.
1589. Bp. Cooper, Admon., 22. I heare some crie out with earnest affection against me.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 164. They uttered their old spiteful affection towards vs.
† 8. Biased feeling, partiality. Obs.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. to Scottes, 227. Weigh the querell indifferently, and without affeccion.
1559. Kennedy, in Misc. Wodr. Soc. (1844), 271. The anceant fatheris … without affectioun schaws truelie thair jugement.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619), 452. Very partiall … and led very much with affection.
III. Of the body.
9. A bodily state due to any influence.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 A iii. Euery vlcere is eyther symple and alone without other dysposytyon or affectyon begynnynge with it.
c. 1660. South, Serm., Prov. iii. 17 (1715), I. 3. To place Men with the furious Affections of Hunger and Thirst in the very Bosom of Plenty.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 59. Why certain affections of the body produce such a distinct emotion of mind.
10. esp. An abnormal state of body; malady, disease.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 G ij. In all suche affections behoueth purgacyons.
1633. T. N[ewton], trans. Lemnie’s Touchst. Complex., 4. Throwne into sundry diseases and innumerable affections.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 198. Affections both of Lungs and weazon.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 157. I mean here only to advert to those rheumatic affections.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, VII. iii. 342. Died, sir, suddenly, last night. It was an affection of the heart.
IV. Of substances or essences.
11. A temporary or non-essential state, condition or relation of anything; a mode of being.
1567. Maplet, Greene Forest, 32. The coldenesse or other affection of the Aire about it.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 35. The spirits walke … freely exempt from the affection of time, place, and motion.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 99. Motion, which is an all-reaching affection or belonger to each bit of the world.
1677. Gale, Ct. of Gentiles, II. IV. Proem. 7. The affections of propositions are either absolute or relate: absolute affections are quantitie and qualitie.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The generality of Peripatetics divide Affections into internal; as motion, and finiteness: and external, as place, and time.
1803. Playfair, Huttonian Theory, 337. To be veined or not veined, is an affection of granite, that seems … accidental.
1842. W. Grove, Correl. Phys. Forces (1867), 106. Electricity is that affection of matter or mode of force which most distinctly and beautifully brings into relation other modes of force.
12. Hence, A property, quality or attribute.
1625. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 225. There remaineth yet one generall and common affection scattered throughout the whole Law … which we call an Action.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 3. The affections of Tropes … are such qualities as may put ornament upon any of the forementioned Tropes.
1659. Pearson, Creed, I. 504. Holiness and catholicism are but affections of this Church.
1751. Harris, Hermes (1841), 153. It fares with tenses as with other affections of speech.
1820. Mair, Tyro’s Dict. (ed. 10), 389. Attributum, an affection, an attribute.
1860. Farrar, Orig. Lang., i. 20. Thought is merely an affection of perishable matter.
V. From AFFECT v.1, confused with AFFECT v.2
† 13. The act of affecting or assuming artificially; = AFFECTATION. Obs.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 171/2. He … dooth answer againe, by cauilling sophistication, & by meere affection.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 407. Taffata phrases, silken tearmes precise, Three-pil’d Hyperboles, spruce affection.
1603. Hist. Eng., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 415. I dislike affection of foreign and new-coined words, when we have good and sufficient store of our own.
1631. Sanderson, Serm., II. 2/2. Affection in this, as in every other thing, is both tedious & ridiculous.
1686. in Misc. Curiosa (1708), III. 230. A most inconvenient affection of Monasyllabical Words.
1776. Sheridan, Sch. Scandal, I. i. With the very gross affection of good nature.
