Af*fil"i*ate (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affiliated (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Affiliating (#).] [LL. adfiliare, affiliare, to adopt as son; ad + filius son: cf. F. affilier.]
1.
To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to bring or receive into close connection; to ally.
Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged and in rebellion?
I. Taylor.
2.
To fix the paternity of; -- said of an illegitimate child; as, to affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man rather than another.
3.
To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to.
How do these facts tend to affiliate the faculty of hearing upon the aboriginal vegetative processes?
H. Spencer.
4.
To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society as a member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.; -- followed by to or with.
Affiliated societies, societies connected with a central society, or with each other.
© Webster 1913.
Af*fil"i*ate, v. i.
To connect or associate one's self; -- followed by with; as, they affiliate with no party.
© Webster 1913.