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WordWealth:
affinity
af·fin·i·ty
(&-'fi-n&-tE),
n., pl. -ties.,
adj.
–n.
1. a natural liking
for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.
2. a person, thing,
idea, etc., for which such a natural liking or attraction is felt.
3. relationship by
marriage or by ties other than those of blood (distinguished from
consanguinity).
4. inherent
likeness or agreement; close resemblance or connection.
5. Biol. the
phylogenetic relationship between two organisms or groups of
organisms resulting in a resemblance in general plan or structure,
or in the essential structural parts.
6. Chem. the
force by which atoms are held together in chemical compounds.
–adj.
7. of or pertaining
to persons who share the same interests: to arrange charter
flights for opera lovers and other affinity groups.
[1275–1325; ME
affinite < MF < L aff nit s
connection by marriage. See AFFINE, -ITY]
—Syn.1.
partiality, fondness; sympathy, leaning, bent. 4. similarity,
compatibility.
—Ant.1. dislike,
aversion. 4. dissimilarity, disparity. (Random
House Webster's, Unabridged). Look at
Thesaurus
Scenarios begin to fall apart. The students want in on the Pledge scenario, which in turn calls a meeting of its various "affinity groups" to decide what to do next. Meanwhile, most of the students march away. The Pledge leaders also attempt to negotiate a new scenario with the police, in which they can be arrested one by one, in an orderly fashion, for a more meaningful show.
—— Hank Stuever in
The Art of Peace, Deploying Posters
And Body Paint, the Antiwarriors Take A Scattershot Approach;
Washington Post; Jan 20, 2003
Philip S. Low, the Joseph F. Foster
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University, has for
years been studying the affinity of many types of cancer cells
for folate--a water-soluble B vitamin that the cancer uses to grow.
—— Richard Martin in
Mother Knows Best for Forbes;
Oct 7, 2002
I was asked to become a manager, which meant someone who had recruited me would be under my supervision. It was awkward initially, but I learned from him and my manager that it would continue to be a two-way learning relationship. Being a manager just meant that I had to set the directions and make decisions for the team, for which I had demonstrated an
affinity (for) from my earlier performance.
——
Setting new dimensions at Dell;
Fran Foo; Special to ZDNet, Sept 5, 2002
Usage note (American Heritage Dictionary):
In the sense of “attraction,” affinity may be followed by
of, between, or with. Thus one may speak of the close
affinity of James and Samuel, or of the affinity between James
and Samuel, or of James's affinity with Samuel. In its
chemical use affinity is generally followed by for: a dye
with an affinity for synthetic fabrics. •One might want to avoid
using affinity as a simple synonym for liking since 62
percent of the Usage Panel rejects the example Her affinity for
living in California led her to reject a chance to return to New York.
Nevertheless, the more sophisticated tone inherent in this use of the
word can lend an archness to certain contexts, as when Barbara Tuchman
writes of Kaiser Wilhelm's “affinity for coarse physical jokes
practiced upon his courtiers.” This may be why 65 percent of the
Usage Panel approved of this quotation when it was presented as an
example. Look at
Thesaurus in depth
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