What is "affinity"

Attraction \At*trac"tion\, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.]

1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation.

   Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, -- (1.)

   Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart. (

2. ) Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (

   1. )

      Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (

   2. )

      Cohesive attraction, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion. (

3. )

   Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (

4. )

   Chemical attraction, or

   affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.

   2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of attraction.
   --Newton.

   3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence.

   4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature.

   Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm.

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, a boundary" (see finish (v.)). Used figuratively since c.1600 of structural relationships in chemistry, philology, etc. Meaning "natural attraction" (as though by family) is from 1610s.

n. 1 A natural attraction or feeling of kinship to a person or thing. 2 A family relationship through marriage of a relative (e.g. sister-in-law), as opposed to consanguinity. (e.g. sister). 3 A kinsman or kinswoman of such relationship. affinal kinsman or kinswoman. 4 The fact of and manner in which something is related to another. 5 Any romantic relationship. 6 Any passionate love for something. 7 (context taxonomy English) resemblances between biology populations; resemblances that suggest that they are of a common origin, type or stock. 8 (context geology English) structure resemblances between minerals; resemblances that suggest that they are of a common origin or type. 9 (context chemistry English) An attractive force between atoms, or groups of atoms, that contributes towards their forming bonds 10 (context medicine English) The attraction between an antibody and an antigen 11 (context computing English) tendency to keep a task running on the same processor in a symmetric multiprocessing operating system to reduce the frequency of cache misses 12 (context geometry English) An automorphism of affine space.

1. n. the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule; "basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk" [syn: chemical attraction]

2. (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody

3. kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship [syn: kinship by marriage] [ant: consanguinity]

4. (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts; "in anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans" [syn: phylogenetic relation]

5. a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; "found a natural affinity with the immigrants"; "felt a deep kinship with the other students"; "anthropology's kinship with the humanities" [syn: kinship]

6. inherent resemblance between persons or things

7. a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; "an affinity for politics"; "the mysterious affinity between them"; "James's affinity with Sam"

Affinity may refer to:

Affinity is a 1999 historical fiction novel by Sarah Waters. It is the author's second novel, following Tipping the Velvet, and followed by Fingersmith.

Affinity were an English jazz-rock fusion band, active from mid-1968 to January 1972.

Affinity is an album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans, released in 1979 featuring Belgian harmonica player Toots Thielemans. Bill Evans plays a Fender Rhodes electric piano on many of the tracks and it is the last time he uses the electric piano on a studio album. It is the recording debut for bassist Marc Johnson.

Affinity is a 1962 studio album by the Oscar Peterson Trio.

'Affinity ' is a 2008 UK film adaptation of Sarah Waters' 1999 novel of the same name; directed by Tim Fywell and screenplay by Andrew Davies.

Affinity (taxonomy) – mainly in life sciences or natural history – refers to resemblance suggesting a common descent, phylogenetic relationship, or type. The term does, however, have broader application, such as in geology (for example, in descriptive and theoretical works), and similarly in astronomy (for example, see " Centaur object" in the context of 2060 Chiron's close affinity with icy comet nuclei.)

Affinity (1970) is the first album by Affinity, produced by John Anthony, with a cover design by Marcus Keef.

Affinity is the fourth studio album by British progressive metal band Haken. It was released on 29 April 2016 through Inside Out Music. It is the group's first full-length album to feature bassist Conner Green following the departure of Thomas MacLean. The first single "Initiate" was released on 18 March 2016. The second single "The Endless Knot" was released on 11 April 2016.

To promote the album, the band had its official website completely redesigned to simulate a 1980s operational system.

In Catholic canon law, affinity is an impediment to marriage of a couple due to the relationship which either party has as a result of a kinship relationship created by another marriage or as a result of out of marital intercourse. The relationships that give rise to the impediment have varied over time. Marriages and sexual relations between people in an affinity relationship are regarded as incestuous.

Today, the relevant principle within the Catholic Church is that "affinity does not beget affinity"—i.e., there is no affinity between one spouse's relatives and the other spouse's relatives. Canon 109 of the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church provides that affinity is an impediment to the marriage of a couple, and is a relationship which "arises from a valid marriage, even if not consummated, and exists between a man and the blood relatives of the woman and between the woman and the blood relatives of the man." Also, affinity "is reckoned in such a way that the blood relations of the man are related by affinity to the woman in the same line and the same degree, and vice versa."

Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following the death of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The rebranding and relaunch happened in 2004. Affinity provides networking and support to conservative evangelical churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland. There are currently about 1300 church congregations linked to Affinity. The organisation's subtitle is "Church-centred Partnership for Bible-centred Christianity".

The British Evangelical Council focussed, in reaction to the 1967 Keele University conference, "to draw in churches predicated on Scriptural ecumenicity." It was opposed to the World Council of Churches.

Many churches linked with Affinity would consider "Bible-centred Christianity" to be reformed, Calvinist, and non- charismatic, although some in the affiliation would disagree. Thus, many member churches are defined by a rigorous theology, adopting a separatist outlook. They regard churches with differing viewpoints as being in error and refuse to associate with them. For this reason they rarely join the Evangelical Alliance, a similar but larger organisation with a broader membership.

Groups of churches linked to Affinity include the Apostolic Church, the Association of Grace Baptist Churches, the Evangelical Movement of Wales, the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales and Ireland and the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England.

As of 2008, the director of Affinity was Jonathan Stephen.

In law and in cultural anthropology, affinity, as distinguished from consanguinity (blood relationship), is the kinship relationship that is created or exists between two or more people as a result of somebody's marriage. It is the relationship which each party to a marriage has to the relations of the other partner to the marriage; but does not cover the marital relationship of the parties to the marriage themselves. Though laws vary considerably, affinity does not always cease with the death of one of the marriage partners through whom affinity is traced, nor with the divorce of the marriage partners. In addition to kinship by marriage, "affinity" can sometimes also include kinship by adoption and step relationship.

Under the law, such relatives by marriage are known as affines. More commonly, they are known as , as affinity is usually signified by adding to a degree of kinship.

In law, affinity may be relevant in relation to prohibitions on incestuous sexual relations and in relation to whether particular couples are prohibited from marrying. Which relationships are prohibited vary from country to country, and have varied over time. In some countries, especially in the past the prohibited relationships were based on religious laws. (See, for example, Affinity under canon law.)

Affinity in terms of sociology, refers to " kinship of spirit", interest and other interpersonal commonalities. Affinity is characterized by high levels of intimacy and sharing, usually in close groups, also known as affinity groups. It differs from affinity in law and canon law which generally refer to the marriage relationship. Social affinity is generally thought of as "marriage" to ideas, ideals and causes shared by a tight community of people.