affinity

affinity
Attraction At*trac"tion, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.] 1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation. [1913 Webster]

Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, -- (1.)

{Attraction of gravitation}, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart. (2.)

{Magnetic}, {diamagnetic}, and {electrical attraction}, each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (1.)

{Adhesive attraction}, attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (2.)

{Cohesive attraction}, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion. (3.)

{Capillary attraction}, attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (4.)

{Chemical attraction}, or

{affinity}, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules. [1913 Webster]

2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of attraction. --Newton. [1913 Webster]

3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence. [1913 Webster]

4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Affinity — Affinity, in etymology affinity is the opposite of infinity . These two words have the same root coming from the Latin: finis = end . “Affinity” meaning is near to the “finis” e.g. close to the “zero point” in a before assumed space. On the other …   Wikipedia

  • affinity — af·fin·i·ty /ə fi nə tē/ n pl ties: relationship by marriage compare consanguinity Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • Affinity — Af*fin i*ty, n.; pl. {Affinities}. [OF. afinit[ e], F. affinit[ e], L. affinites, fr. affinis. See {Affined}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife s blood relations, or between a wife and her husband s… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • affinity — When affinity implies a mutual relationship or attraction, it is normally followed by between or with (The affinity between Britain and most of her former colonies • Beckett…stresses that he wrote the little book on order, not out of any deep… …   Modern English usage

  • affinity — [n1] liking or inclination toward something affection, attraction, closeness, compatibility, cotton*, cup of tea*, druthers*, fondness, good vibrations*, leaning, partiality, rapport, same wavelength, simpatico, sympathy, thing*, weakness*;… …   New thesaurus

  • affinity — (n.) c.1300, relation by marriage (as opposed to consanguinity), from O.Fr. afinité (12c.), from L. affinitatem (nom. affinitas) neighborhood, relationship by marriage, noun of state from affinis adjacent, also kin by marriage, lit. bordering on …   Etymology dictionary

  • affinity — 1 *attraction, sympathy Contrasted words: repugnance, repellency or repulsion, abhorrence (see corresponding adjectives at REPUGNANT): *antipathy, aversion 2 resemblance, *likeness, similarity, similitude, analogy Analogous words: agreement …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • affinity — ► NOUN (pl. affinities) 1) a natural liking or sympathy for someone or something. 2) a close relationship based on a common origin or structure. 3) relationship by marriage. 4) the tendency of a substance to combine with another. ORIGIN Latin… …   English terms dictionary

  • affinity — [ə fin′i tē, afin′i tē] n. pl. affinities [ME affinite < OFr afinite < L affinitas < affinis, adjacent, related by marriage < ad , to + finis, a border] 1. relationship by marriage: distinguished from CONSANGUINITY 2. close… …   English World dictionary

  • affinity — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ close, great, real, special, strong ▪ I felt a great affinity with the people of the islands. ▪ natural ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • Affinity —    In fifteenth century England, an affinity was a web of political and social connections constructed by a nobleman, either on the basis of royal favor and personal political standing or on the basis of family and territorial influence. A noble… …   Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Roses

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