affinity

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /əˈfɪnəti/ UK /əˈfɪnəti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a natural attraction, kinship, or close relationship

She felt a deep affinity with the sea.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a natural attraction,... attraction kinship rapport sympathy closeness fondness liking

Opposites

antipathy aversion dislike repulsion

Word family

Related forms affineaffinedfinite final

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

mysterious affinity
an attraction or connection whose cause is difficult to explain

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English affinite, from Old French afinite, from Latin affinitas ('relationship by marriage'), from affinis ('related, bordering on'), from ad ('to') + finis ('boundary, end').

affinitas Latin affinis Latin finis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# affinity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈfɪnəti/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈfɪnəti/

## Meanings
1. a natural attraction, kinship, or close relationship

## Examples
- She felt a deep affinity with the sea.

## Synonyms
- attraction
- kinship
- rapport
- sympathy
- closeness
- fondness
- liking

## Antonyms
- antipathy
- aversion
- dislike
- repulsion

## Related Forms
- affine
- affined
- finite
- final

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: affinitas
- Root: affinis
- Root: finis

## Etymology
From Middle English affinite, from Old French afinite, from Latin affinitas ('relationship by marriage'), from affinis ('related, bordering on'), from ad ('to') + finis ('boundary, end').

## AI Etymology
Affinity is a noun meaning "a natural attraction, kinship, or close relationship". Historically, it is from Middle English affinite, from Old French afinite, from Latin affinitas ('relationship by marriage'), from affinis ('related, bordering on'), from ad ('to') + finis ('boundary, end'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: affinity is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin affinitas, Latin affinis, and Latin finis. Close English family members include affine, affined, finite, and final.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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