endearment

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
endearment
    n 1: the act of showing affection
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Endearment \En*dear"ment\, n.
   The act of endearing or the state of being endeared; also,
   that which manifests, excites, or increases, affection. "The
   great endearments of prudent and temperate speech." --Jer.
   Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]

         Her first endearments twining round the soul.
                                                  --Thomson.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
21 Moby Thesaurus words for "endearment":
      artful endearments, bait, baited trap, blandishments, caress,
      charm, come-on, decoy, decoy duck, drawcard, drawing card,
      ground bait, honeyed words, hook, lure, pat, snare, soft words,
      sweet nothings, sweet talk, trap

    

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