Definitions for: Affinity


[n] inherent resemblance between persons or things
[n] a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; "an affinity for politics"; "the mysterious affinity between them"; "James's affinity with Sam"
[n] the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule; "basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk"
[n] (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
[n] a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; "found a natural affinity with the immigrants"; "felt a deep kinship with the other students"; "anthropology's kinship with the humanities"
[n] (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts; "in anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans"
[n] kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship



Webster (1913) Definition: Af*fin"i*ty, n.; pl. Affinities. [OF. afinit['e],
F. affinit['e], L. affinites, fr. affinis. See Affined.]
1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his
wife's blood relations, or between a wife and her
husband's blood relations); -- in contradistinction to
consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by
with, to, or between.

Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. --1 Kings iii.
1.

2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity;
resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of
colors, or of languages.

There is a close affinity between imposture and
credulity. --Sir G. C.
Lewis.

2. Companionship; acquaintance. [Obs.]

About forty years past, I began a happy affinity
with William Cranmer. --Burton.

4. (Chem.) That attraction which takes place, at an
insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles
of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds;
chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.

5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or highe? groups
dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure,
and indicating community of origin.

6. (Spiritualism) A superior spiritual relationship or
attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp.
persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who
exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.

Synonyms: chemical attraction, kinship, kinship by marriage, phylogenetic relation

Antonyms: blood kinship, cognation, consanguinity

See Also: attraction, attraction, attractive force, attractiveness, family relationship, force, rapport, relation, relationship, resemblance, resonance, steprelationship, sympathy

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