affectionate
[uh-fek-shuh-nit]
- 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.
- strongly disposed or inclined.
- passionate; headstrong.
- biased; partisan.
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Origin of affectionate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
delicatelypolitelyhelpfullytenderlysympatheticallygenerouslygraciouslygeniallyaffectionatelywarmlypassionatelyrespectfullyzealouslyearnestlyreverentlylonginglyadmiringlyfondlykindlyappreciativelyExamples 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.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"I couldn't be sad for long with you about, Emma," she said affectionately.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
And that I thanked him affectionately, and would never forget him.'
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Mother St. Sophie came up on to the platform and kissed me affectionately.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
She kissed me affectionately, and on seeing my sulky face asked if I was not satisfied.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
affectionate
- having or displaying tender feelings, affection, or warmthan affectionate mother; an affectionate letter
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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).
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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.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper