Con*nec"tion (?), n. [Cf.
Connexion.] 1. The act of connecting,
or the state of being connected; junction; union; alliance;
relationship.
He [Algazel] denied the possibility of a known
connection between cause and effect.
Whewell.
The eternal and inseparable connection
between virtue and happiness.
Atterbury.
2. That which connects or joins together;
bond; tie.
Any sort of connection which is perceived
or imagined between two or more things.
I. Taylor.
3. A relation; esp. a person connected
with another by marriage rather than by blood; -- used in a loose
and indefinite, and sometimes a comprehensive, sense.
4. The persons or things that are
connected; as, a business connection; the Methodist
connection.
Men elevated by powerful connection.
Motley.
At the head of a strong parliamentary
connection.
Macaulay.
Whose names, forces, connections, and
characters were perfectly known to him.
Macaulay.
In this connection, in connection with
this subject. [A phrase objected to by some writers.]
&fist; This word was formerly written, as by Milton, with
x instead of t in the termination,
connexion, and the same thing is true of the kindred words
inflexion, reflexion, and the like. But the general
usage at present is to spell them connection,
inflection, reflection, etc.
Syn. -- Union; coherence; continuity; junction;
association; dependence; intercourse; commerce; communication;
affinity; relationship.
