from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Affiliate \Af*fil"i*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Affiliated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Affiliating}.] [LL. adfiliare, affiliare, to
adopt as son; ad + filius son: cf. F. affilier.]
1. To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to
bring or receive into close connection; to ally.
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Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged
and in rebellion? --I. Taylor.
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2. To fix the paternity of; -- said of an illegitimate child;
as, to affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man
rather than another.
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3. To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to.
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How do these facts tend to affiliate the faculty of
hearing upon the aboriginal vegetative processes?
--H. Spencer.
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4. To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society
as a member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.;
-- followed by to or with.
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{Affiliated societies}, societies connected with a central
society, or with each other.
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