fondness

Fondness is a feeling of warm affection or attachment towards someone or something. You can have fondness for your family, a favorite hobby, or even a childhood memory.

When we talk about fondness, we usually use it to describe a strong but gentle liking for something that brings us comfort and happiness. For example, you might say, "I have a lot of fondness for old movies because they remind me of my grandmother." Or, "I've developed a fondness for hiking in the mountains over the years." The word is often used to describe a feeling that's hard to explain, but it's like a warm glow inside. You might feel fondness towards someone who has been kind to you, or something that you associate with happy memories.

The verb form of "fondness", which is to be fond of something, can also mean to have a strong preference for it. For example, "I'm fond of trying new foods" means I really like experimenting with different cuisines.