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Attachment vs Affectionate - What's the difference?

attachment | affectionate |

As a noun attachment

is the act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.

As an adjective affectionate is

(of a person) having affection or warm regard; loving; fond.

As a verb affectionate is

(rare) to show affection to; to have affection for.

attachment

English

Noun

  • The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.
  • * 2005 , Rebecca N. Baergen, Manual of Benirschke and Kaufmann's Pathology of the Human Placenta , page 71:
    • The “implantation window” is a short, specific phase during which attachment of the blastocyst occurs.
  • A strong bonding towards or with.
    • I have such an attachment towards my fiancé!
  • A dependence, especially a strong one.
  • * 2003 , Griffith Edwards, Alcohol: The World's Favorite Drug , page 63:
    • Through every other kind of drug experience, however, ran his attachment to alcohol.
  • A device attached to a piece of equipment or a tool.
  • * 1978 , Walter H. Wager, Time of reckoning , page 194:
    • Zimchenko's phone had a tape attachment ,
  • The means by which something is physically attached.
  • * 2012 , Sinikka Elliott, Not My Kid: What Parents Believe about the Sex Lives of Their Teenagers , page 46:
    • [The umbilical cord is] the attachment connecting the fetus with the placenta.
  • (computing) A file sent along with an email.
  • (legal) Taking a person's property to satisfy a court-ordered debt.
    • attachment of earnings
  • (meteorology) The act or process by which any (downward) leader connects to any available (upward) streamer in a lightning flash.
  • * 2009 , Jakke Mäkelä, Eero Karvinen, Niko Porjo, Antti Mäkelä and Tapio Tuomi, Attachment of Natural Lightning Flashes to Trees: Preliminary Statistical Characteristics'', published in the ''Journal of Lightning Research , volume 1

    • Derived terms

    * attachment disorder ----

    affectionate

    English

    Etymology 1

    Partly from (etyl) affectionatus, partly from affection + .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (of a person) Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond.
    • She eulogised her always warm and affectionate brother.
  • Characterised by or proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender.
    • the affectionate''' care of a parent; an '''affectionate''' countenance; an '''affectionate''' message; ' affectionate language
  • * 1900 , , The House Behind the Cedars , Chapter I,
    • Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer's office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance.
    Synonyms
    * tender; lovesome; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent. * See also
    Derived terms
    * affectionately
    Related terms
    * affect * affectation * affecter * affective * affection

    Etymology 2

    Either from the adjective, or from affection + (modelled on Middle French affectionner).

    Verb

    (affectionat)
  • (rare) To show affection to; to have affection for.
  • (obsolete, reflexive) To emotionally attach (oneself) to.
  • *, Folio Society, 2006, p.21:
    • Plutarch saith fitly of those who affectionate themselves to Monkies and little Dogges, that.
  • * 1721 , John Rushworth, Historical Collections Of Private Passages of State, etc.: 1618—1629 , Volume 1, page 222,
    • And fir?t, his Maje?ty would have you to under?tand, That there was never any King more loving to his People, or better affectionated to the right u?e of Parliaments, than his Maje?ty hath approved him?elf to be,.
  • * 1838 February 1, (Charles Dickens), To Catherine Dickens'', 2012, Jenny Hartley (editor), ''The Selected Letters of Charles Dickens , page 41,
    • Ever my dear Kate your affectionated husband
    CHARLES DICKENS
    ----