\Af*fin"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Affinities}. [OF. afinit['e],
F. affinit['e], L. affinites, fr. affinis. See {Affined}.]
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.

         Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh.   --1 Kings iii.
                                               1.

2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity;
   resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of
   colors, or of languages.

         There is a close affinity between imposture and
         credulity.                            --Sir G. C.
                                               Lewis.

2. Companionship; acquaintance. [Obs.]

         About forty years past, I began a happy affinity
         with William Cranmer.                 --Burton.

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.

5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or highe? groups
   dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure,
   and indicating community of origin.

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.