Connect, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Connected; p.pr. & vb.n. Connecting.]
Etymology: [L. connectere, -nexum; con- + nectere to bind. See Annex.]
1. To join, or fasten together, as by something intervening; to associate; to combine; to unite or link together; to establish a bond or relation between. He fills, he bounds, connect and equals all. Pope. A man must the connection of each intermediate idea with those that it connects before he can use it in a syllogism. Locke.
2. To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with another person, thing, business, or affair. Connecting rod (Mach.), a rod or bar joined to, and connecting, two or more moving parts; esp. a rod connecting a crank wrist with a beam, crosshead, piston rod, or piston, as in a steam engine.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Connect, v. i.
To join, unite, or cohere; to have a close relation; as, one line of railroad connects with another; one argument connect with another.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for connect; he lists it under attribute.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.