affiliation

Noun

WordNet 3.0

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”Synonyms: association tie tie-up
the act of becoming formally connected or joined“welcomed the affiliation of the research center with the university”

Affiliation \Af*fil`i*a"tion\, n. [F. affiliation, LL. affiliatio.]

1.Adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same family or society. [1913 Webster]

2.(Law) The establishment or ascertaining of parentage; the assignment of a child, as a bastard, to its father; filiation. [1913 Webster]

3.Connection in the way of descent. --H. Spencer. [1913 Webster]