He is a known 'associate' of criminals. [=he is known to associate with criminals; people know that he works with or spends time with criminals]
She was promoted from assistant editor to 'associate' editor and may soon be promoted to senior editor.
He was 'associated' [='connected, identified'] 'with' a group of radicals in the government.
(..) . You did not. $? How are you gonna get it? I'll get it. - I shouldn't associate with you. - You love it. I love what? Strange smells. Unfamiliar hands. The possibility of blood. (..)1974 The Gambler