Af*fin"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Affinities(&?;). [OF. afinité, F. affinité, 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.

• A family relationship through marriage of a relative, as opposed to consanguinity. (e.g. sister-in-law).
  
• A kinsman or kinswoman of such relationship. Affinal kinsman or kinswoman.
  
• Any romantic relationship.
  
• Any passionate love for something.