ally

== English == === Etymology 1 === 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. ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ăl'ī, əlī', IPA(key): /ˈæl.aɪ/, /əˈlaɪ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæl.aɪ/, /əˈlaɪ/ Rhymes: (one pronunciation) -aɪ Hyphenation: al‧ly ==== Verb ==== ally (third-person singular simple present allies, present participle allying, simple past and past participle allied) (transitive) To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. Chiefly followed by to or with: to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature. (reflexive) To join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else. (intransitive) Chiefly followed by with: to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim. Synonym: make common cause ===== Usage notes ===== The word is generally used in the passive form or reflexively. ===== Conjugation ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== alligate alligated (archaic) alligation alligator (“one who binds or ties”) (obsolete) ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English allie, alie [and other forms], probably partly: from allien (verb): see etymology 1; and from Anglo-Norman allié, alié, alyé, allyé, Middle French allié, alié, allyé (“associate, supporter; friend; relative; person, state, etc., associated or united with another by alliance or treaty”), and Old French alliiet (“military or political ally”) (modern French allié), a noun use of the past participle of Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier, and Old French alier (verb): see etymology 1. ==== Noun ==== ally (plural allies) A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend. A person who, or organization which, supports a demographic group subject to discrimination and/or misrepresentation but is not a member of the group; specifically (LGBTQ), a person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it. A person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose; a confederate. Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature. (taxonomy) An organism which is related to another organism through common evolutionary origin; specifically, a species which is closely related to another species, usually within the same family. (figuratively) A person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter. (historical or obsolete) A kinsman or kinswoman; a relative. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== alliance ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== ally pl (plural only) (obsolete) One's relatives; kin, kindred, relations; also, relationship through descent or marriage; kinship. 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. === Etymology 3 === See alley. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈæli/ Hyphenation: al‧ly ==== Noun ==== ally (plural allies) Alternative spelling of alley (“a glass marble or taw”). === References === === Further reading === straight ally on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ally (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “ally”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “ally”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. “ally”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. === Anagrams === Lyla, y'all, ya'll, yall