affectionate

[uh-fek-shuh-nit]

See more synonyms for affectionate on Thesaurus.com

adjective

showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love; fondly tender: an affectionate embrace.
having great affection or love; warmly attached; loving: your affectionate brother.
Obsolete.
1. strongly disposed or inclined.
2. passionate; headstrong.
3. biased; partisan.

Origin of affectionate

1485–95; affection¹ + -ate¹, on the model of passionate

Related formsaf·fec·tion·ate·ly, adverbaf·fec·tion·ate·ness, nounpseu·do·af·fec·tion·ate, adjectivepseu·do·af·fec·tion·ate·ly, adverbqua·si-af·fec·tion·ate, adjectivequa·si-af·fec·tion·ate·ly, adverbun·af·fec·tion·ate, adjectiveun·af·fec·tion·ate·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for affectionate on Thesaurus.com

1. loving, fond.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for affectionately

Contemporary Examples

Or as Jon Goldwater, publisher and co-CEO of Archie Comics, affectionately calls him, “Archie West.”
Lena Dunham and the Renaissance of Archie Andrews (He’s Not Dead Yet)
Hugh Ryan
April 9, 2014
A liberal's conception of tolerance presupposes what we once affectionately called "the Enlightenment."
Women: Talk To The Wall
Bernard Avishai
June 14, 2013
He was the “uncle” just as the BBC is affectionately known as “auntie.”
Jimmy Savile Sex-Abuse Scandal Taints Entire Era in Britain
Peter Jukes
October 31, 2012
Disraeli affectionately (and with irreverence that shocked everyone but la reine) referred to Victoria as the "Faery Queen."
Bachelor Brad Womack's Hidden Brilliance
Nicole LaPorte
February 20, 2011
These physical traits signal a woman who is “protective of her family” and also “affectionately sexual.”
Tea Party Lewinsky Look-Alikes
The Daily Beast
October 4, 2010

Historical Examples

She put her arms about her neck, and affectionately inquired the cause of her distress.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"I couldn't be sad for long with you about, Emma," she said affectionately.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
And that I thanked him affectionately, and would never forget him.'
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
Mother St. Sophie came up on to the platform and kissed me affectionately.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
She kissed me affectionately, and on seeing my sulky face asked if I was not satisfied.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt

British Dictionary definitions for affectionately

affectionate

adjective

having or displaying tender feelings, affection, or warmthan affectionate mother; an affectionate letter

Derived Formsaffectionately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for affectionately

adv.

1580s, from affectionate + -ly (2).

affectionate

adj.

1580s, "fond, loving," from affection + -ate (1). Early, now mostly obsolete, senses included "inclined" (1530s), "prejudiced" (1530s), "passionate" (1540s), "earnest" (c.1600). Other forms also used in the main modern sense of the word included affectious (1580s), affectuous (mid-15c.).

affectionate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}affectionate

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for affectionately

Contemporary Examples

Or as Jon Goldwater, publisher and co-CEO of Archie Comics, affectionately calls him, “Archie West.”

A liberal's conception of tolerance presupposes what we once affectionately called "the Enlightenment."

He was the “uncle” just as the BBC is affectionately known as “auntie.”

Disraeli affectionately (and with irreverence that shocked everyone but la reine) referred to Victoria as the "Faery Queen."

These physical traits signal a woman who is “protective of her family” and also “affectionately sexual.”

Historical Examples

She put her arms about her neck, and affectionately inquired the cause of her distress.

"I couldn't be sad for long with you about, Emma," she said affectionately.

And that I thanked him affectionately, and would never forget him.'

Mother St. Sophie came up on to the platform and kissed me affectionately.

She kissed me affectionately, and on seeing my sulky face asked if I was not satisfied.

affectionate

Word Origin and History for affectionately

adv.

affectionate

adj.

Origin of affectionate