affection English · revision 15070

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈfek.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|affeccioun]], [[bor|fro|afection|t=emotion, inclination, love]] (modern [[fr|affection]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|affectiō|t=disposition, relation, frame]], from the past participle stem of [[m|la|afficiō|t=to act on, influence]] (see [[affect]]), from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and [[m|la|faciō|t=to make, do]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*dhe-|t=to set, put]].^(Etymonline) In Latin the sense developed from disposition to good disposition and zealous attachment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Emotion or feeling: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives desire, inclination or wish, about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A mental state brought about by some influence is from about 1230,^(OED 1989) an inclination towards a thing from 1330,^(OED 1989) and goodwill, kind feeling or love from 1382.^(OED 1989) Feeling as opposed to reason, passion or lust (1398), and disposition in general (1540) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989) A bodily state, especially an abnormal one, is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) In Celtic philology an affection is a change of a vowel caused by a following sound (1911).^(OED 1989) Affectionate is from the 16th century,^(Hoad 1986) and a verb affection, from French, from about 1545.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1200 – emotion, feeling.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1330 – inclination towards something.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – love, goodwill.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – a bodily disorder; affectionate.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1911 – vowel affection (Celtic).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling of fondness or tenderness for someone or something; [[attachment]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Often in the plural, feelings or emotions: ''to play on someone's affections''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(pathology)'' A disease or abnormal condition.^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # A disposition or tendency.^(AHD)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Inclination.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[affectional]]

+ * [[affectionally]]

+ * [[affectionless]]

+ * [[affectionate]]

+ * [[affectioned]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[affect]]

+ * [[affectation]]

+ * [[affective]]

+ * [[aficionado]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}