fondness
/ˈfɒndnəs/ · fond·ness
noun
- A gentle or tender affection for someone or something; a liking. She felt a deep fondness for the old oak tree in her backyard.
- A somewhat foolish or excessive affection; a soft spot that may cloud judgment. His fondness for novelty gadgets sometimes led him to buy things he never used.
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Antonyms
Did you know? The word appears in Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, where Benedick speaks of his ‘fondness’ for Beatrice, highlighting its early use to denote both affection and a hint of foolishness.