[f. AFFECTIONATE a. + -NESS.] The quality of being affectionate; passing from a. Earnestness, heartiness (in earlier use), to b. Kindness, loving disposition, fondness (in later use).
1669. Honyman, Surv. Naphtali, II. 244. Persons not equally allowed by Christ to be in the Ministry, may be equal in the manner of their utterance, seeming affectionateness, spiritualness of matter, earnest manner of application.
1740–87. Lett. Miss Talbot, etc. (1809), II. 53. A fair-dealing kind of affectionateness, ready to encourage and acknowledge its liking of all amiable people.
1826. Miss Mitford, Our Village, II. (1863), 453. The generosity and affectionateness of the motive.
1827. Hare, Guesses at Truth (1859), 515. The strong affectionateness of womanhood.
1858. Thackeray, Virginians, ii. 19. The affectionateness of the present greeting.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., ix. 201. The affectionateness of beseeching looks and supplicating voices.
