affine

adj

1. (not-comparable)Assigning finite values to finite quantities.
2. (not-comparable)Of or pertaining to a function expressible as f(⃑x)=A⃑x+⃑b (where A is a linear transformation and ⃑b is a constant), which, regarded as a transformation, maps parallel lines to parallel lines and finite points to finite points.

   “Now, let P, Q, and R be three noncollinear points that are left fixed by an affine transformation T.”

   “In our example of the affine cryptosystem family, deciphering is also accomplished by an affine map, namely P#92;equiva#123;-1#125;C-a#123;-1#125;b#92;bmodN, and so the deciphering transformation uses the same algorithm as the enciphering transformation, except with a different key, namely, the pair (a#123;-1#125;,-a#123;-1#125;b).”

   “Clearly every linear functional is affine, and every affine function is both convex and concave.”

3. (comparable)Of two materials, having mutual affinity.

noun

1. A relative by marriage.

   “In contrast to bonds of kaḅisu membership, which require ritual maintenance and can produce intense factional rivalries, and those of affines, which demand ongoing exchanges, unmediated relations of blood are created by nothing more than physical procreation.[…]People's ability to swivel between these two rhetorical possibilities reflects the inherent tension that lies between affines, who are both others and extensions of oneself.”

   “For the Cubeo the Vekürüwá and Okómiwa were, as they say, designated to be their affines, in a manner that was calculated to emphasize their similarities rather than the formal differences that set contemporary intermarriages apart. I suspect that Cubeo themselves sense that an excessive intimacy with the contingent of affines may have been suitable for a formative period of still ambiguous distinctions, but not for the real social world.”

verb

1. (transitive)To refine.

   “The next stage is remelting: the affined sugar is dissolved in hot water and the syrup formed is made alkaline by adding milk of lime.”

2. (transitive)To set the CPU affinity of something

   “affined the sequential regions to run only on CPU 0”

   “the affined CPU will be randomly allocated”

   “we also affined all interrupts to CPU cores that are not allocated to FASA”