affectionate
/əˈfɛkʃənət/ adjective, verb
Forms affectionates affectionating affectionated
- adjective (of a person) Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond. “She eulogised her always warm and affectionate brother.”
- adjective (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”
- adjective (obsolete) Eager; passionate; strongly inclined toward something.
- verb (rare) To show affection to; to have affection for.
- verb (obsolete, reflexive) To emotionally attach (oneself) to.
Synonyms
tender lovesome attached loving devoted warm fond earnest ardent caring cordial dear soft friendly goodhearted good-natured heartfelt hearty kind kindhearted
Antonyms
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin affectiōnātus. By surface analysis, affection + -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of aficionado.
Either from the above adjective by metanalysis or from affection + -ate (verb-forming suffix) (modelled on Middle French affectionner (French affectionner)).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; as, an affectionate brother.
- adjective Kindly inclined; zealous. [Obs.] Johson.
Etymology [Cf. F. affectionné.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “affectionate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details