affinity

n.; pl. Affinities [ OF. afinité, F. affinité, 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 ]