*association*

n. [ Cf. F. association, LL. associatio, fr. L. associare. ] 1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union; connection, whether of persons of things. “Some . . . bond of association.” Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Self-denial is a kind of holy association with God. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Mental connection, or that which is mentally linked or associated with a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Words . . . must owe their powers association. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why should . . . the holiest words, with all their venerable associations, be profaned? Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular purpose; as, the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a benevolent association. Specifically, as among the Congregationalists, a society, consisting of a number of ministers, generally the pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches. [ 1913 Webster ]

Association of ideas (Physiol.), the combination or connection of states of mind or their objects with one another, as the result of which one is said to be revived or represented by means of the other. The relations according to which they are thus connected or revived are called the law of association. Prominent among them are reckoned the relations of time and place, and of cause and effect. Porter. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to association, or to an association. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to the theory held by the associationists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philos.) The doctrine or theory held by associationists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philos.) One who explains the higher functions and relations of the soul by the association of ideas; e. g., Hartley, J. C. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A federally chartered corporation that purchases and resells mortgages. [ acron. ]
Syn. -- FNMA, Fannie Mae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (psychoanalysis) The act or process of free-associating. It is a technique used in psychoanalysis and is supposed to allow the analyst access to the unconscious thoughts of the analysand. See free-associate. [ PJC ]

. An organization for promoting the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare of young men, founded, June 6, 1844, by George Williams (knighted therefor by Queen Victoria) in London. In 1851 it extended to the United States and Canada, and in 1855 representatives of similar organizations throughout Europe and America formed an international body. The movement has successfully expanded not only among young men in general, but also specifically among railroad men, in the army and navy, with provision for Indians and negroes, and a full duplication of all the various lines of oepration in the boys' departments. It currently (1998) maintains buildings which usually have both recreational facilities and dormitories for dwelling. It is usually called by its acronym YMCA. See also the similar organizations Young Women's Christian Association and YMHA. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]