affinity

[uh-fin-i-tee] /əˈfɪn ɪ ti/
noun, plural affinities..
1.
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; Middle English affinite < Middle French < Latin affīnitās connection by marriage. See affine, -ity
Related forms
nonaffinity, noun, plural nonaffinities, adjective
Can be confused
affinity, infinity.
Synonyms
1. partiality, fondness; sympathy, leaning, bent. 4. similarity, compatibility.
Antonyms
1. dislike, aversion. 4. dissimilarity, disparity.
Examples from the web for affinity
  • We all still share an affinity for the printed page.
  • Riesling has a special affinity to pork and shellfish of all kinds.
  • It has a close linguistic and cultural affinity with its neighbours.
  • But its affinity for the tomato and its key role in pesto sauce make it indispensable to Italian cooking.
  • Despite her affinity for writing, Chaltas focused on science in college.
  • These organic compounds have more affinity with hydrocarbons than with sand.
  • The same with those airline, hotel and rental car affinity cards.
  • The affinity for history is one of the things I enjoy about baseball.
  • It was an instant affinity: both were blinded by science.
  • But it is not just a convenient lyric, or a reflection of his affinity for 70s rock.
British Dictionary definitions for affinity

affinity

/əˈfɪnɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
foll by with or for. a natural liking, taste, or inclination towards a person or thing
2.
the person or thing so liked
3.
a close similarity in appearance or quality; inherent likeness
4.
relationship by marriage or by ties other than of blood, as by adoption Compare consanguinity
5.
similarity in structure, form, etc, between different animals, plants, or languages
6.
(chem)
  1. the tendency for two substances to combine; chemical attraction
  2. a measure of the tendency of a chemical reaction to take place expressed in terms of the free energy change A
7.
(biology) a measure of the degree of interaction between two molecules, such as an antigen and antibody or a hormone and its receptor
Derived Forms
affinitive, adjective
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Latin affīnitāt- connected by marriage, from affīnis bordering on, related
Word Origin and History for affinity
n.

c.1300, "relation by marriage" (as opposed to consanguinity), from Old French afinité (12c.), from Latin affinitatem (nominative affinitas) "neighborhood, relationship by marriage," noun of state from affinis "adjacent," also "kin by marriage," literally "bordering on," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + finis "a border, an end" (see finish). Used figuratively since c.1600 of structural relationships in chemistry, philology, etc. Meaning "natural attraction" (as though by family) is from 1610s.

affinity in Medicine

affinity af·fin·i·ty (ə-fĭn'ĭ-tē)
n.

  1. An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine.

  2. The attraction between an antigen and an antibody.

  3. A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.

  4. The selective staining of a tissue by a dye. The selective uptake of a dye, chemical, or other substance by a tissue.

affinity in Science
affinity
  (ə-fĭn'ĭ-tē)   

  1. A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.

  2. An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine, as the attraction between an antigen and an antibody.


affinity in the Bible

relationship by alliance (2 Chr. 18:1) or by marriage (1 Kings 3:1). Marriages are prohibited within certain degrees of affinity, enumerated Lev. 18:6-17. Consanguinity is relationship by blood.