affinity
/əˈfɪnɪti/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.61 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
4
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A family relationship through marriage of a relative (e.g. sister-in-law), as opposed to consanguinity (e.g. sister).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Resemblances between biological populations, suggesting that they have a common origin, type or stock.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "There are, of course, certain differences of detail; for example, the placing of the safety valves on the boiler barrel behind the dome, which follows the practice in the Riddles 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 locomotives for the Ministry of Supply; but taken all in all, Britannia's boiler has a closer affinity with the Doncaster designs than with any other."
- "A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane knowledge. Knowing was guessing and interpreting, not observing or demonstrating."
- ""Cut it short, sis, cut it short," he would growl at her if she started to murmur sweet "coo-coos" to her affinity stationed on the other end of the wire."
Etymology
From Middle English affinite, from Old French affinité. Ostensibly equivalent to affine + -ity. See also af-.