Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Affectionate

Af-fec′tion-ate

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
affectionné
.]
1.
Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond;
as, an
affectionate
brother
.
2.
Kindly inclined; zealous.
[Obs.]
Johson.
Man, in his love God, and desire to please him, can never be too
affectionate
.
Sprat.
3.
Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender;
as, the
affectionate
care of a parent;
affectionate
countenance, message, language.
4.
Strongly inclined; – with to.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
Syn. – Tender; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent.

Webster 1828 Edition

Affectionate

AFFEC'TIONATE

,
Adj.
1.
Having great love, or affection; fond; as, an affectionate brother.
2.
Warm in affection; zealous.
Man, in his love to God, and desire to please him, can never be too affectionate.
3.
Proceeding from affection; indicating love; benevolent; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; an affectionate countenance.
4.
Inclined to; warmly attached. [Little used.]

Definition 2024

affectionate

affectionate

English

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /əˈfɛkʃənət/

Adjective

affectionate ‎(comparative more affectionate, superlative most affectionate)

  1. (of a person) Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond.
    She eulogised her always warm and affectionate brother.
  2. (of an action, etc.) Characterised by or proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender.
    the affectionate care of a parent; an affectionate countenance; an affectionate message; affectionate language
    • 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, The House Behind the Cedars, Chapter I,
      Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer's office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Either from the adjective, or from affection + -ate (modelled on Middle French affectionner).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əˈfɛkʃəneɪt/

Verb

affectionate ‎(third-person singular simple present affectionates, present participle affectionating, simple past and past participle affectionated)

  1. (rare) To show affection to; to have affection for.
  2. (obsolete, reflexive) To emotionally attach (oneself) to.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, p.21:
      Plutarch saith fitly of those who affectionate themselves to Monkies and little Dogges, that […].
    • 1721, John Rushworth, Historical Collections Of Private Passages of State, etc.: 1618—1629, Volume 1, page 222,
      And firſt, his Majeſty would have you to underſtand, That there was never any King more loving to his People, or better affectionated to the right uſe of Parliaments, than his Majeſty hath approved himſelf to be, […].
    • 1838 February 1, Charles Dickens, To Catherine Dickens, 2012, Jenny Hartley (editor), The Selected Letters of Charles Dickens, page 41,
      Ever my dear Kate your affectionated husband
      CHARLES DICKENS

Latin

Adjective

affectionate

  1. vocative masculine singular of affectionatus

Etymology

Partly from Latin affectionatus, partly from affection + -ate.

Similar Results