— affiliable /euh fil"ee euh beuhl/ , adj. — affiliative /euh fil"ee ay'tiv, -fil"ee euh-/ , adj.
v. /euh fil"ee ayt'/ ; n. /euh fil"ee it, -ayt'/ , v. , affiliated, affiliating , n.
v.t.
1. to bring into close association or connection: The research center is affiliated with the university.
2. to attach or unite on terms of fellowship; associate (usually fol. by with in U.S. usage, by to in Brit. usage): to affiliate with the church.
3. to trace the descent, derivation, or origin of: to affiliate a language.
4. to adopt.
5. Law. to fix the paternity of, as an illegitimate child: The mother affiliated her child upon John Doe.
v.i.
6. to associate oneself; be intimately united in action or interest.
n.
7. a branch organization.
8. Com.
a. a business concern owned or controlled in whole or in part by another concern.
b. a subsidiary.
9. a person who is affiliated; associate; auxiliary.
[ 1755-65; affiliatus adopted as son (ptp. of affiliare ), equiv. to af- AF- + fili ( us ) son + -atus -ATE 1 ]