Ally

Pronunciation

• enPR: É™lÄ«', IPA: /əˈlaɪ/ verb
• enPR: ăl'Ä«, IPA: /ˈæl.aɪ/ noun
• Rhymes: -aɪ

From Middle English alien, Old French alier (Modern French allier), from Latin alligō ("to bind to"), from ad ("to") + ligō (""). Compare alligate, allay, alloy and ligament.

Full definition of ally

Verb

1. (transitive) To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy
• unknown date Alexander Pope:O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied.
2. (transitive) To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.
• unknown date Edmund Spenser:These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied.
• unknown date Alexander Pope:The virtue nearest to our vice allied.

Usage notes

Generally used in the passive form or reflexively.

Often followed by to or with.

Synonyms

• make common cause

Noun

1. One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.
• unknown date Thomas Babington Macaulay:the English soldiers and their French allies
2. Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
• unknown date Buckle:Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.
3. Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.
4. (taxonomy) A closely related species, usually within the same family.
• Gruiformes — cranes and allies
5. (obsolete) A relative; a kinsman.

Related terms

• alliance

Diminutive of alabaster.

Noun

1. Alternative form of alley (a glass marble or taw)

Anagrams

• y'all, ya'll