Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Affiliate \Af*fil"i*ate\, v. i.
   To connect or associate one's self; -- followed by with; as,
   they affiliate with no party.

Affiliate \Af*fil"i*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Affiliated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Affiliating}.] [LL. adfiliare, affiliare, to
   adopt as son; ad + filius son: cf. F. affilier.]
   1. To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to
      bring or receive into close connection; to ally.

            Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged
            and in rebellion?                     --I. Taylor.

   2. To fix the paternity of; -- said of an illegitimate child;
      as, to affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man
      rather than another.

   3. To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to.

            How do these facts tend to affiliate the faculty of
            hearing upon the aboriginal vegetative processes?
                                                  --H. Spencer.

   4. To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society
      as a member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.;
      -- followed by to or with.

   {Affiliated societies}, societies connected with a central
      society, or with each other.

Source : WordNet®

affiliate
     n 1: a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is
          affiliated with another or with an organization
     2: a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated
        with another organization; "network affiliates"
     v 1: join in an affiliation; "They affiliated themselves with the
          organization"
     2: keep company with; hang out with; "He associates with
        strange people"; "She affiliates with her colleagues"
        [syn: {consort}, {associate}, {assort}]
     3: join in an affiliation; "The two colleges affiliated"