Feelings of love or liking for someone or something; emotional attachments or fondness.
From Latin 'affectio' (a state of being affected). The word entered English via Old French around the 13th century, initially meaning 'emotional disposition' and later narrowing to mean specifically fond or loving feelings.
The word 'affection' comes from being 'affected' by someone—literally, they've changed your emotional state. This hidden etymology reveals a deep truth: love isn't something we possess, it's something someone does to us, a way they alter our emotional landscape.
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