ally

Meaning

Verb

1. To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.
2. Chiefly followed by to or with: to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature.
3. To join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else.
4. Chiefly followed by with: to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim.

Noun

1. A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.
2. A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.
3. A person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose; a confederate.
4. Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature.
5. Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature.
6. A person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter.
7. (obsolete) A kinsman or kinswoman; a relative.

Noun

1. (obsolete) One's relatives; kin, kindred, relations; also, relationship through descent or marriage; kinship.
2. (obsolete) People, groups, states, etc., which are associated or united with each other for a common purpose; confederates; also, the state of being allied; alliance, confederation.

Noun

Alternative spelling of alley (“a glass marble or taw”)

Concepts

ally

associate

friend

confederate

alliance

companion

allied

supporter

unite

assistant

fellow

comrade

association

coalition

partnership

partner

connect

syndicate

join with

member

allied powers

buddy

follower

pal

bind

tie

cohort

acquaintance

aggie

cobelligerent

marble

deputy

adherent

helper

succourer

witness for

unite by marriage

be connected

cling

consort

log-on

tie in with

attach

brace

clip

conjoin

hook up

interlock

join

knot

leash

span

splice

close friend

close relative

confederative

band together

league

league together

link

cooperate

work together

collaborator

fan

Hyphenated as

al‧ly

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈælaɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English allien, alien (“to form an alliance, associate, join; to become an ally; to introduce (someone) as an ally; to marry; to become related (to someone); to attack, engage in combat; to combine; (cooking) to combine ingredients, especially to bind them together”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier [and other forms], and Old French alier (“to join together, unite; to alloy (metals); (cooking) to combine ingredients”) (modern French allier), from Latin alligāre, the present active infinitive of alligō, adligō (“to bind around, to, or up (something), bandage, fasten, fetter, tie; to hold fast; to detain, hinder”), from al-, ad- (intensifying prefix) + ligō (“to bind, tie; to bandage, wrap around; to unite”) (from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind, tie”)). Doublet of allay, alligate, alloy, and ligament.