affectionate adj : having or displaying warmth or affection; "affectionate children"; "caring parents"; "a fond embrace"; "fond of his nephew"; "a tender glance"; "a warm embrace" [syn: caring, fond, lovesome, tender, warm]

English

Etymology 1

Partly from etyl la affectionatus, partly fro affection + -ate.

Pronunciation

• /əˈfɛkʃənət/

Adjective

1. Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; as, an affectionate brother.
2. Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; affectionate countenance, message, language.

Synonyms

Tender; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent.

Derived terms

• affectionately

Related terms

• affect

Translations

• Finnish: hellä, rakastava
• French: affectueux

Etymology 2

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

Pronunciation

/əˈfɛkʃəneɪt/

Verb

1. To show affection to; to have affection for.
2. In the context of "obsolete|reflexive": To emotionally attach (oneself) to.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, p. 21:

     Plutarch saith fitly of those who affectionate themselves to Monkies and little Dogges, that [...etc.]

Christian, Christlike, Christly, adoring, benign, benignant, brotherly, caring, compassionate, conjugal, dear, decent, demonstrative, devoted, doting, faithful, filial, fond, fraternal, good, gracious, human, humane, husbandly, kind, kindhearted, kindly, kindly-disposed, languishing, lovelorn, lovesick, lovesome, loving, maternal, melting, nice, parental, paternal, romantic, sentimental, soft, softhearted, sympathetic, sympathizing, tender, tenderhearted, uxorious, warm, warmhearted, wifely