Emily Dickinson Lexicon

affair (-s), n. [OFr afaire, do.] (webplay: business, do, executing, human, make, know, partial, private).

1. Matter; business; doing; transaction; problem; private interest; object of attention; subject of concern.
2. Event; happening; occurrence.
3. Activity; party; exhibition; soiree; social gathering; [word play on “affair “ and “fair”] shining beauty; delight.

affect (-ing, -s), v. [Fr. < L. affectā-re, aim at, aspire to, pretend to have < ad- + facere, do.] (webplay: existing, feelings, loss, natural, presence, quality, show).

1. Pretend; feign.
2. Influence; alter; act upon; produce a change on.

affectingly, adv. [see affect, v.]

Movingly; inspirationally; with power to impress; in a manner that stimulates the senses; [word play] deceptively; by pretense; just temporarily.

affection, n. [Fr. < L. affectiōn-em disposition, inclination, fondness.] (webplay: between, child, existing, love, make, natural).

Love; warmth; fondness; good will; zealous attachment; deep emotion; sensitive feelings; kind thoughts.

affiance, v. [OFr < afier, trust.] (webplay: give).

Betroth; pledge; engage; wed; [fig.] attach; unite; combine; connect; embody; incorporate.

affidavit, n. [L. affīdāvit, has stated on faith or oath.]

Promise; guarantee; pledge; deposition; testimony; legal oath; formal written declaration.

affirm (-ed, -s), v. [OFr < L. ad- + firmā-re, make firm, strong.] (webplay: alive, side, witness).

Prove; confirm; assert; maintain; declare; establish.

affix (-ed), v. [Med. L. affixā-re, to fasten to.]

Attach; unite; connect.

afflict (-s, -ed), v. [MFr < L. afflīct-um, dash against, throw down, distress.] (webplay: loss, losses, seen, trouble).

1. Distress; disturb; bother; upset; worry; trouble.
2. Pain; grieve; oppress.
3. Impress; strike; [fig.] occur to; dawn on.
4. Suppress; blind; obstruct.

affliction, n. [see afflict, v.] (webplay: give to the body or mind pain, harass, seen, strike, suffering, trouble).

1. Sorrow; grief; suffering.
2. Trial; hardship; discontent; pain; poignancy; gloom; woe.
3. Agitation; tribulation; turmoil caused by sorrow.
4. Curse; burden; impediment; hindrance; encumbrance.
5. Loss; emptiness; disappointment.
6. Death.