▪ I. affix, v.
(əˈfɪks)
[ad. med.L. affīxā-re, frequentative of affīg-ĕre, to fasten to, f. ad to + fīg-ĕre to fasten. First used by Scotch writers, and perhaps directly due to MFr. affixer, an occas. refash. of OFr. afichier, mod. afficher (see affiche).]
1. trans. To fix, fasten, or make firm (a thing to, on, upon another). a. lit. as by a nail, a string, cement.
| 1533 Bellendene Livy iv. (1822) 347 The dictator affixt his tentis at Tusculum. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scotl. II. 482 Ane crucifix..In quhome the image of ouir Saluiour Affixt wes. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iv. (1723) 218 Affixing them upon any Thing which occurrs in the Way. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 39 This sail was affixed to a vessel. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. iii. 137 Felton affixed this bull to the gates of the bishop of London's palace. 1880 P.O. Guide 14 Obtain postage stamps, and affix them carefully to the letters. |
† b. To fix in occupation or possession. Obs.
| 1649 Selden Laws of Eng. i. lxviii. (1739) 178 Other Courts were rural, and affixed also to some certain place. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apolog. 57 This affixed me for a longer space of time, then before, to my Bed. 1658 Osborn Adv. to Son (1673) 221 A dread they have to affix the Miter in a particular Family. |
† c. fig. To fix (the desires or mental faculties) on or to an object. Obs.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. iii. ii. 11 She affixed had Her hart on knight so goodly-glorifyde. 1596 Bell Surv. Pop. iii. x. 439 Ye must not affixe your mindes to these. 1640 Fuller Abel. Rediv., Jewel (1867) I. 365 He was so affixed to his studies. |
2. refl. To attach oneself, cling to.
| 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 201 They [young opossums], from a principle of instinct, affix themselves to her teats. |
† 3. intr. (by omission of refl. pron.) To cling or be attached to. Obs.
| 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iv. (1723) 222 Part [of these Minerals] affix to them, incrusting them over. |
4. From the affixing of a seal (actually attached by a strip of parchment, etc.) extended to, To impress a seal, stamp, or signature, write one's ‘signature,’ initials, or name, add a postscript or note (to).
| 1658 Bramhall Consecr. Bps. xi. 18 And did cause his Authentick Episcopall Seale, to be there to affixed. 1771 Junius Lett. xlix. 254 The king..graciously affixed his stamp. 1824 Dibdin Libr. Comp. 208 But it seems to be above all price. At least, none is affixed. 1878 Simpson Sch. Shaks. I. 98 To this paper the following notes are affixed in Philip's handwriting. |
b. fig. To attach as a stigma (to), to stamp or stigmatize (with).
| 1665 Glanville Scepsis Sci. 96 Very innocent truth's are often affix't with the reproach of Heresie. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 115 Affixing ridicule to them. 1805 Foster Ess. i. ii. 23 The ungracious necessity of affixing blame. |
c. fig. To attach as an appurtenance or concomitant.
| 1759 Hume Hist. Eng. an. 1521 To bribe their indolence, by affixing stated salaries to their profession. |
† 5. intr. (for refl.) To stick as a mark or stigma; to attach. Obs. rare.
| 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. 224 No stain affixes to his honour from the accusation. |
† 6. trans. To fix upon, determine, settle. Obs.
| 1621 1st & 2nd Bk. Discipline 66 Another day to be affixed by your Honours. 1725 Pope Odyss. v. 372 The land, affix'd by Fate's eternal laws To end his toils. |
▪ II. affix, n.
(ˈæfɪks)
Also 7 affixe.
[a. Fr. affixe adj. and n., ad. L. affīx-us fastened to, pa. pple. of affīg-ĕre: see prec.]
1. That which is joined or appended; an appendage, addition.
| 1642 Jer. Taylor Episcop. (1647) 341 The ambitious seeking of a temporall principality as..an affixe of the Apostolate. c 1854 Stanley Sinai & Pal. xi. (1858) 129 Designated like the various ranges of Maritime, Graian, Pennine and Julian Alps, by some affix or epithet. 1864 Spectator No. 1875, 642 Mr. Gladstone's affix to his speech on the suffrage which he calls a preface. |
2. esp. in Gram. (See quot. 1865.)
| 1612 Brerewood Lang. & Relig. ix. 76 Framing it somewhat to their own country fashion, in notation of points, affixes, conjugations. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v., The oriental languages..differ chiefly from each other as to affixes and suffixes. 1865 Haldeman Affixes to English Words §65 Affixes are additions to roots, stems, and words, serving to modify their meaning and use. They are of two kinds, prefixes, those at the beginning, and suffixes, those at the end of the word-bases to which they are affixed. Several affixes occur in long words like in-com-pre-hen-s-ib-il-it-y which has three prefixes and five suffixes. The term interfix is hardly necessary for ad in anim-ad-vert, or t inserted as a fulcrum between two vowels as ego-t-ism. |
† 3. A public notice posted up. (Cf. Fr. affiche.) Obs.
| 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 48 An affix or bill of the goods being posted for the buyers to read. |
4. Of a dog's name (see quots.).
| 1893 Kennel Club Rules 2 A name which has been duly registered..cannot be again accepted for registration of a dog of the same breed, without the addition of a distinguishing number, prefix or affix. 1954 C. L. B. Hubbard Compl. Dog Breeders' Man. xii. 123 Affixes consist of names attached to the names of dogs, either in front of the dogs' names (prefix) or behind (suffix) in order to identify the dogs with a particular breeder or kennel. |