Affinities

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 blood relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between. [1913 Webster]

Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. --1 Kings iii. 1. [1913 Webster]

2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages. [1913 Webster]

There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. --Sir G. C. Lewis. [1913 Webster]

2. Companionship; acquaintance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer. --Burton. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or higher groups dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure, and indicating community of origin. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]