As-sō/ci-ā'tion, n.
(-shĭ-ā'-), n. [Fr. association, L. Lat. associatio, from associare.]
Sense 1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union; connection, whether of persons or things. “Some . . . bond of association.” Hooker.
Antiochus being put besides all hope of association with Prusias. Holland.
The law of association is this, — That empirical ideas which often follow each other create a habit in the mind whenever the one is produced for the other always to follow. Kant, Trans.
Sense 2. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular purpose; as, the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a benevolent association, — specifically, in the Congregationalist church, a society of the clergy, consisting of a number of pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches.