Associateship

to connect or bring into relation, as thought, feeling, memory, etc.:
Many people associate dark clouds with depression and gloom.
to join as a companion, partner, or ally:
to associate oneself with a cause.
to unite; combine:
coal associated with shale.
to enter into union; unite.
to keep company, as a friend, companion, or ally:
He was accused of associating with known criminals.
to join together as partners or colleagues.
a person who shares actively in anything as a business, enterprise, or undertaking; partner; colleague; fellow worker:
He consulted with his associates before proceeding further.
a companion or comrade:
my most intimate associates.
a confederate; an accomplice or ally:
criminal associates.
anything usually accompanying or associated with another; an accompaniment or concomitant.
a person who is admitted to a subordinate degree of membership in an or institution:
an associate of the Royal Academy.
connected, joined, or related, especially as a companion or colleague; having equal or nearly equal responsibility:
an associate partner.
having subordinate status; without full rights and privileges:
an associate member.
allied; concomitant.
Historical Examples

It is understood that the fourth year is to be employed in research in the subject of the associateship.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, February 1899 Various

verb (usually foll by with) (əˈsəʊʃɪˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
(transitive) to link or connect in the mind or imagination: to associate Christmas with fun
(intransitive) to keep company; mix socially: to associate with writers
(intransitive) to form or join an association, group, etc
(transitive; usually passive) to consider in conjunction; connect: rainfall is associated with humidity
(transitive) to bring (a person, esp oneself) into friendship, partnership, etc
(transitive; often passive) to express agreement or allow oneself to be connected (with): Bertrand Russell was associated with the peace movement
noun (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt; -ˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
a person joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; partner; colleague
a companion or friend
something that usually accompanies another thing; concomitant: hope is an associate to happiness
a person having a subordinate position in or admitted to only partial membership of an institution, association, etc
adjective (prenominal) (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt; -ˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; having equal or nearly equal status: an associate director
having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status: an associate member
accompanying; concomitant
v.

mid-15c., from Latin associatus past participle of associare “join with,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + sociare “unite with,” from socius “companion” (see social (adj.)). Related: Associated; associating. Earlier form of the verb was associen (late 14c.), from Old French associier “associate (with).”
n.

1530s, from associate (adj.).
adj.

early 15c., “allied, connected, paired,” from Latin associatus, past participle of associare (see associate (v.)).