among civilians, implies a relation contracted by marriage; in contradistinction to confanguinity, or relation by blood.—Affinity does not found any real kindship; it is no more than a kind of fiction, introduced on account of the close relation between husband and wife. It is even said to cease, when the cause of it ceases; hence a woman who is not capable of being a witness for her husband's brother during his lifetime, is allowed for a witness when a widow, by reason the affinity is dissolved. Yet with regard to the contracting marriage, affinity is not dissolved by death, though it be in every thing else.

Affinity, is also used to denote conformity or agreement: Thus we say, the affinity of languages, the affinity of words, the affinity of sounds, &c.

chemistry, implies that natural impulse or attraction which various bodies exert towards each other. See Chemistry, n° 15, 27, 64.