Affection, 1) bent of mind, disposition: “what warmth is there in your a. towards any of these suitors?” Merch. I, 2, 37. “level at my a.” Merch. I, 2, 37 “the a. of nobleness which nature shows above her breeding,” Wint. V, 2, 40. “there grows in my most ill-composed a. such a stanchless avarice,” Mcb. IV, 3, 77. Chiefly a feeling or natural impulse acting upon, and swaying the mind: “not one . . who my a. put to the smallest teen,” Compl. 192. “by the a. that now guides me most,” Meas. II, 4, 168. “thou hast neither heat, a., limb, nor beauty,” III, 1, 37. “with a. wondrous sensible he wrung Bassanio's hand,” Merch. II, 8, 48. “a., master of passion,” IV, 1, 50 (natural instinct, on which the disposition of the mind depends). “a., thy intention stabs the centre,” Wint. I, 2, 138 (natural propensity, thy power rules the inmost thoughts of men). with the least a. of a welcome, H4BIV, 5, 173. “if this law of nature be corrupted through a.” Troil. II, 2, 177. “doth a. breed it?” Oth. IV, 3, 99. Plur. --s == feelings, passions: “threw my --s in his power,” Compl. 146. “your --s would become tender,” Tp. V, 18. “in the working of your own --s,” Meas. II, 1, 10. “has he --s in him?” III, 1, 108. “war against your own --s,” LLL I, 1, 9. Merch. I, 1, 16. III, 1, 62. V, 87. Shr. IV, 4, 42. Wint. V, 1, 220. John V, 2, 41. H4B IV, 4, 65. H5 IV, 1, 110. Rom. I, 1, 153. II, 5, 12. Caes. II, 1, 20. Oth. II, 1, 245 (Ff a.) IV, 3, 101. Ant. I, 5, 12. Ant. I, 5, 12
2) love: “a. is a coal that must be cooled,” Ven. 387. Ven. 387 Ven. 387 Lucr. 500. Lucr. 500 Tp. I, 2, 448. Gent. I, 1, 3. II, 1, 91. Wiv. II, 2, 248. IV, 6, 10. Meas. I, 4, 48. III, 1, 249. Err. V, 51. Ado II, 1, 175. Ado II, 1, 175 II, 3, 106. II, 3, 106 II, 3, 106 III, 1, 42. III, 1, 42 LLL I, 2, 63. IV, 3, 290. Mids. I, 1, 197. III, 2, 230. Merch. II, 1, 22. As I, 2, 22. IV, 1, 212. IV, 1, 212 Shr. I, 1, 165. III, 1, 76. Alls I, 3, 196. Tw. II, 4, 38. Wint. I, 1, 26. IV, 4, 390. IV, 4, 390 V, 2, 111. H4B IV, 4, 22. V, 5, 17. H6A V, 1, 47. Troil. IV. 4, 6. Cor. V, 3, 24. Rom. II Chor. Rom. II Chor. III, 1, 182. Tim. I, 2, 222. Caes. IV, 3, 205. Hml. I, 3, 100. IV, 7, 19. Lr. I, 1, 223. I, 4, 63. Oth. I, 1, 36. Ant. II, 6, 139. III, 9, 67. III, 13, 7. Cymb. I, 6, 138. With to: “her a. unto Benedick,” Ado V, 4, 90. Shr. IV, 2, 23. H8 III, 2, 35. Lr. I, 2, 94. Personified and masc.: “a. is my captain, and he leadeth,” Lucr. 271. Plural: “made old offences of --s new,” Sonn. 110, 4. “all these trophies of --s hot,” Compl. 218. “fair encounter of two most rare --s,” Tp. III, 1, 75. Err. II, 1, 94. Ado II, 3, 231. As I, 3, 21. H8 III, 1, 129. Oth. I, 3, 112.. Cymb. I, 1, 82. Per. II, 5, 77.
3) inclination, tendency, wish: “whatever comes athwart his a.” Ado II, 2, 7. “it is the king's most sweet pleasure and a.” LLL V, 1, 93. “not removes --'s edge in me,” Shr. I, 2, 73. “minister unto the appetite and a. common of the whole body,” Cor. I, 1, 107. “keep you in the rear of your a.” Hml. I, 3, 34. Plur.: “nice --s wavering stood in doubt if best were as it was,” Compl. 97. “my --s are most humble,” Tp. I, 2, 481. “when the rich golden shaft hath killed the flock of all --s else,” Tw. I, 1, 36. “let me wonder at thy --s,” H4A III, 2, 30. “in speech, in gait, in diet, in --s of delight,” H4B II, 3, 29. “in his tomb lie my --s,” V, 2, 124. H5 V, 1, 26. Cor. I, 1, 181. II, 3, 239. Rom. I, 1, 133. Hml. III, 1, 170.
4) affectation: “witty without a.” LLL V, 1, 4 (F2. LLL V, 1, 4 4 affectation). V, 2, 407 (where the rhyme demands affectation). Hml. II, 2, 464 (Ff affectation).
Used by Evans as a verb: Wiv. I, 1, 234.