Propinquities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being physically close or near to others in space or time; a similarity or connection in character or nature among entities; the relationship or proximity between different people or concepts in social or familial contexts
2. The quality of having a close relationship or being nearby in location or circumstance; the likeness or shared traits between individuals or groups; an association that exists due to nearness in relationships or ideas
3. The condition of being next to one another or in close relationships; a shared characteristic that links different parties; the proximity that creates bonds between individuals or concepts within various contexts

Etymology: In Latin, "propinquus" meant "near," but it was also the everyday word for a relative. A kinsman was someone close by in blood, so nearness and kinship were treated as one idea. English "propinquity" carries both senses: physical closeness and the ties that closeness creates. The root is "prope," "near," which also gave Latin "proximus," meaning "nearest." English "proximity" comes from that same stock, and "approximate" is related too, from a Latin verb meaning "brought near." Many people never connect these words, though they all share the idea of being close. "Propinquities" is the plural, used when several separate closenesses or shared links are being named at once. It is built from "propinquus" plus the English abstract suffix "-ity."

Synonyms: proximity, closeness, nearness, affinity, similarity

Antonyms: distance, remoteness, alienation, estrangement, disconnection