associate

adj

Etymology: From Middle English associat(e) (used participially as well as adjectively up to Early Modern English), from Latin associātus, the perfect passive participle of associō (“to join, unite”), from ad- + sociō, from socius (“shared, common, kindred”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix).

1. Joined with another or others and having lower status.

   “The associate editor is someone who has some experience in editing but not sufficient experience to qualify for a senior post.”

2. Having partial status or privileges.

   “He is an associate member of the club.”

3. Following or accompanying; concomitant.
4. Connected by habit or sympathy.

   “associate motions”

   “These associate ideas are gradually formed into habits of acting together, by frequent repetition, while they are yet separately obedient to the will; as is evident from the difficulty we experience in gaining so exact an idea of the front of St. Paul's church, as to be able to delineate it with accuracy, or in recollecting a poem of a few pages.”

noun

1. An associate's degree.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English associat(e) (“associated, allied”) (the verb *associaten is not found in Middle English writings and only attested at a later period), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Doublet of associe.

1. To join in or form a league, union, or association.
2. To spend time socially; keep company.

   “She associates with her coworkers on weekends.”

   “Before the race he associated only with other skiers.”

3. To join as a partner, ally, or friend.

   “He associated his name with many environmental causes.”

4. To connect or join together; combine.

   “particles of gold associated with other substances”

5. To connect evidentially, or in the mind or imagination.

   “I always somehow associate Chatterton with autumn.”

   “He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last as long as our language.”

6. To endorse.

   “She refused to associate herself with the petition.”

   “Mr. President, I rise to associate myself with the remarks of my senior Senator from Louisiana who has led this fight successfully for many years”

7. To be associative.
8. To accompany; to be in the company of.

   “Friends should associate friends in grief and woe”