Meaning

noun a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is affiliated with another or with an organization

noun a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization

verb keep company with; hang out with

originFrom Medieval Latin affīliātus, the passive past participle of Late Latin adfīliō, affīliō (“to adopt as son”), from ad- + fīlius + -ō. Equivalent to Latin affīliō + -ate. Compare French affilié (noun).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0