affectation

[In Fr. affectation; Ital. affettazione, fr. Lat. affectatio = an eager desire for; conceit.] 1. Love of or to, fondne for, affection. (a) With no culpability implied, but the reverse: "There are even bonds of affectation , bonds of mutual respect, and reciprocal duties between man and wife."-Bp. Hall: Cases of Conscience . (b) With some slight culpability implied : "In things of their own nature indifferent, if either councils or particular men have at any time, with sound judgment, misliked conformity between the church of God and infidels; the cause thereof hath been somewhat else than only affectation of di imilitude." Hooker Ecel. Pol . , bk. iv., § 7. 2. An aiming at, a striving after. "It was not any opposition to the law of Moses, nor any danger threatened to the temple, but pretended sedition and affectation of the crown objected, which moved Pilate to condemn him."-Pearson: On the Creed, Art. 4. 3. An attempt to appear to po e what one really does not po e , or to be what one is not; pretence, show. It is sometimes followed by of , as "an affectation of wit," "an affectation of virtue." "Affectation. A curious desire of a thing which nature has not given."-Rider. "Romance! disgusted with deceit, Far from thy motley court I fly, Where Affectation holds her seat, And sickly Sensibility." Byron: Hours of Idlene : To Romance.