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]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

endearment
    n 1: the act of showing affection