ally

ally
\ \ [13] The verb ally was borrowed into English from Old French alier, an alteration of aleier (a different development of the Old French word was aloier, which English acquired as alloy).
\ \ This came from Latin alligārebind one thing to another’, a derivative of ligāretie’; hence the idea etymologically contained in being ‘allied’ is of having a bond with somebody else.
\ \ The noun ally seems originally to have been independently borrowed from Old French allié in the 14th century, with the meaning ‘relative’.
\ \ The more common modern sense, ‘allied person or country’, appeared in the 15th century, and is probably a direct derivative of the English verb.
\ \ Cf.ALLOY, LIGAMENT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Ally — a common female name.People*Ally Carter, American author of young adult and adult fiction *Ally Fowler (born Alexandra Fowler in 1961), Australian actress in 1980s soap operas *Ally Gallacher (1909 1964), Scottish football manager *Ally McCoist… …   Wikipedia

  • Ally — puede referirse a: Ally, comuna de Cantal (Francia). Ally, comuna de Alto Loira (Francia). Ally era una serie de televisión norteamericana iniciada en 1999. Esta página de desambiguación cataloga …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ally — Al*ly , n.; pl. {Allies}. [See {Ally}, v.] 1. A relative; a kinsman. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. One united to another by treaty or league; usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate. [1913 Webster] The English soldiers and their… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ally — ► NOUN (pl. allies) 1) a person, organization, or country that cooperates with another. 2) (the Allies) the countries that fought with Britain in the First and Second World Wars. ► VERB (allies, allied) (ally to/with) 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • Ally — Al*ly , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Allied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Allying}.] [OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad + ligare to bind. Cf. {Alligate}, {Alloy}, {Allay}, {Ligament}.] 1. To unite, or form a connection between, as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ally — 1. This is now normally stressed on the first syllable, both as a noun and as a verb. 2. The verb has four typical constructions: (1) transitive, (2) intransitive, (3) reflexive • (Since Siegfried alone has the strength to win the Valkyrie for… …   Modern English usage

  • Ally — Al ly, n. See {Alley}, a marble or taw. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ally — index affiliate, backer, bear (support), benefactor, coactor, coadjutant, cohort, colleague …   Law dictionary

  • ally — colleague, *partner, copartner, confederate Analogous words: *associate, comrade, companion: supporter, upholder, backer (see corresponding verbs at SUPPORT): cooperator (see corresponding verb at UNITE) Antonyms: adversary Contrasted words:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • ally — [n] something united with another, especially by treaty accessory, accomplice, associate, coadjutor, collaborator, colleague, confederate, co worker, friend, helper, partner; concepts 299,322,354,359 Ant. antagonist, enemy …   New thesaurus

  • ally — [ə lī′, alī′; ] also, and for n. usually [, al′ī] vt. allied, allying [ME alien < OFr alier < L alligare < ad , to + ligare, to bind: see LIGATURE] 1. to unite or associate for a specific purpose, as families by marriage, nations by… …   English World dictionary

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