affiliation

n. connection, attachment

In law, affiliation (from Latin ad-filiare, to adopt as a son) is the term to describe a partnership between two or more parties.
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Noun
1. a social or business relationship; "a valuable financial affiliation"; "he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team"; "many close associations with England"
(synonym) association, tie, tie-up
(hypernym) relationship
(derivation) affiliate
2. the act of becoming formally connected or joined; "welcomed the affiliation of the research center with the university"
(hypernym) association
(hyponym) reaffiliation
(derivation) affiliate

n. affiliation, connection, attachment; initiation, instruction

(n.)
The establishment or ascertaining of parentage; the assignment of a child, as a bastard, to its father; filiation.
  

(n.)
Connection in the way of descent.
  

(n.)
Adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same family or society.