affection

 
Pronunciation: /əˈfɛkʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a gentle feeling of fondness or liking: she felt affection for the wise old lady [count noun]: he won a place in her affections
  • 2 archaic the action or process of affecting or being affected.
  • [count noun] a condition or disease: an affection of the skin
  • [count noun] a mental state; an emotion.

Derivatives

affectional

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French from Latin affectio(n-), from afficere 'to influence' (see affect2)