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.
(..) that all Negroes lie... all Negroes are basically immoral beings... all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women. An assumption that one associates with minds oftheir calibre... and which is, in itself, gentlemen, a lie. Which I do not need to point out to you. (..)1962 To Kill a Mockingbird