affīnĭtas (adf-), ātis, f. [affinis] (gen. plur. adfinitatium, Just. 17, 3), the state or condition of adfinis.
I Relationship or alliance by marriage , esp. between a father and son-in-law , Ter. And. 247 Ruhnk. (cf. affinis): adstringere inter aliquos, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 73: effugere, Ter. And. 247; so id. Hec. 723: caritas generis humani serpit sensim foras, cognationibus primum, tum adfinitatibus, deinde amicitiis, post vicinitatibus, Cic. Fin. 5, 23, 68: adfinitate se devincire cum aliquo, id. Brut. 26: cum aliquo adfinitate conjungi, Nep. Paus. 2, 3: in adfinitatem alicujus pervenire, id. Att. 19, 1: contrahere, Vell. 2, 44: facere inter aliquos, id. 2, 65: jungere cum aliquo, Liv. 1, 1: adfinitate conjunctus, allied by marriage , Suet. Ner. 35: in adfinitatis jura succedit, Just. 7, 3.—Meton., the persons so related , like kindred in Engl.: patriam deseras, cognatos, adfinitatem, amicos, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 75.—
II Fig., relationship , affinity , union , connection (rare), Varr. R. R. 1, 16: litterarum, Quint. 1, 6, 24: per adfinitatem litterarum, qui φώρ Graece, Latine fur est, Gell. 1, 18, 5: tanta est adfinitas corporibus hominum mentibusque, id. 4, 13, 4.