[af.fil.i.ate] vb -at.ed ; -at.ing [ML affiliatus, pp. of affiliare to adopt as a son, fr. L ad- + filius son--more at feminine] vt (1761) 1 a: to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch b: to associate as a member "~s herself with the local club"
2: to trace the origin of ~ vi: to connect or associate oneself: combine -- af.fil.i.a.tion n
[2]af.fil.i.ate n (1879): an affiliated person or organization