a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.
2.
a person, thing, idea, etc., for which such a natural liking or attraction is felt.
3.
relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood (distinguished from consanguinity).
4.
inherent likeness or agreement; close resemblance or connection.
5.
Biology. the phylogenetic relationship between two organisms or groups of organisms resulting in a resemblance in general plan or structure, or in the essential structural parts.
6.
Chemistry. the force by which atoms are held together in chemical compounds.
–adjective
7.
of or pertaining to persons who share the same interests: to arrange charter flights for opera lovers and other affinity groups.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME affinite < MF < L affīnitās connection by marriage. See affine, -ity]
A natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship.
Relationship by marriage.
An inherent similarity between persons or things. See Synonyms at likeness.
Biology A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.
Immunology The attraction between an antigen and an antibody.
Chemistry An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine.
[Middle English affinite, from Old French afinite, from Latin affīnitās, from affīnis, related by marriage; see affined.]
Usage Note: In the sense of "attraction," affinity may be followed by of, between, or with. Thus one may speak of the close affinity of James and Samuel, or of the affinity between James and Samuel, or of James's affinity with Samuel. In its chemical use affinity is generally followed by for: a dye with an affinity for synthetic fabrics. · One might want to avoid using affinity as a simple synonym for liking since 62 percent of the Usage Panel rejects the example Her affinity for living in California led her to reject a chance to return to New York. Nevertheless, the more sophisticated tone inherent in this use of the word can lend an archness to certain contexts, as when Barbara Tuchman writes of Kaiser Wilhelm's "affinity for coarse physical jokes practiced upon his courtiers." This may be why 65 percent of the Usage Panel approved of this quotation when it was presented as an example.
1303, "relation by mariage" (as opposed to consanguinity), from O.Fr. afinité, from L. affinitatem (nom. affinitas) "neighborhood, relationship by marriage," from affinis "adjacent," also "kin by marriage," lit. "bordering on," from ad- "to" + finis "a border, an end." Used figuratively since c.1600 of structural relationships in chemistry, philology, etc. Meaning "natural attraction" (as though by family) is from 1616.
(immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
2.
(anthropology) kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship [ant: blood kinship]
3.
(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"
4.
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"
5.
the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule; "basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk"
6.
inherent resemblance between persons or things
7.
a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; "an affinity for politics"; "the mysterious affinity between them"; "James's affinity with Sam"
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.
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