Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent affections, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.

The lively representation of any emotion.

Passion; violent emotion.

an ongoing emotion, one which one should have continuously, as opposed to an emotion that is fleeting

In the words of Jonathan Edwards, affection is the inclination of the will. In other words, affection is not glandular, physical, fuzzy feelings. Affection is that which moves us to do with our wills what we believe in our minds.

Affection (from Latin ad, and facere, meaning "to do something to") is an emotion that derives from the recognition of one's own values in the character of another.