(transitive; foll by to or with) to receive into close connection or association (with a larger body, group, organization, etc); adopt as a member, branch, etc
2.
(foll by with) to associate (oneself) or be associated, esp as a subordinate or subsidiary; bring or come into close connection: he affiliated himself with the Union
noun (əˈfɪlɪɪt; -ˌeɪt)
3.
a person or organization that is affiliated with another
(as modifier): an affiliate member
Derived Forms
affiliation, noun
Word Origin
C18: from Medieval Latin affīliātus adopted as a son, from affīlīare, from Latin filius son
1761, from Latin affiliatus, past participle of affiliare "to adopt" (see affiliation). Outside legal use, always figurative. Related: Affiliated; affiliating.