ally - Definitions from Dictionary.com

10 results for: ally

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

al·ly

Audio Help [v. uh-lahy; n. al-ahy, uh-lahy] Pronunciation Key verb, -lied, -ly·ing, noun, plural -lies.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to unite formally, as by treaty, league, marriage, or the like (usually fol. by with or to): Russia allied itself to France.

2.	to associate or connect by some mutual relationship, as resemblance or friendship.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to enter into an alliance; join; unite.

–noun

4.	a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose: Canada and the United States were allies in World War II.

5.	Biology. a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionary relationship to another, often as a member of the same family: The squash is an ally of the watermelon.

6.	a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME alien < AF al(l)ier, aillaier, OF alier < L alligāre to bind to. See alloy

]

—Related forms

al·li·a·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 1. unify, join, combine, wed. 4. partner, confederate. 6. friend, aide, accomplice, accessory, assistant, abettor; colleague, coadjutor, auxiliary, helper.

—Antonyms 4, 6. enemy, foe, adversary.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
ally

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

al·ly Audio Help   (ə-lī', āl'ī) Pronunciation Key
v.   al·lied, al·ly·ing, al·lies

v.   tr.

To place in a friendly association, as by treaty: Italy allied itself with Germany during World War II.
To unite or connect in a personal relationship, as in friendship or marriage.

v. intr.
To enter into an alliance: Several tribes allied to fend off the invaders.

n. pl. al·lies

One that is allied with another, especially by treaty: entered the war as an ally of France.
One in helpful association with another: legislators who are allies on most issues. See Synonyms at partner.
Allies
1. The nations allied against the Central Powers of Europe during World War I. They were Russia, France, Great Britain, and later many others, including the United States.
2. The nations, primarily Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States, allied against the Axis during World War II.

[Middle English allien, from Old French alier, from Latin alligāre, to bind to; see alloy.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ally (v.)

1297, from O.Fr. alier "combine, unite," from a differentiated stem of aleier (source of alloy), from L. alligare "bind to" (see alloy). The noun is 1598 in the sense of "united with another by treaty or league," from the verb.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

ally
noun
1.	a friendly nation
2.	an associate who provides cooperation or assistance; "he's a good ally in fight" [ant: enemy]
verb
1.	become an ally or associate, as by a treaty or marriage; "He allied himself with the Communists"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ally [əˈlai] verb

to join by political agreement, marriage, friendship etc
Example: Small countries must ally themselves with larger countries in order to survive.

Arabic:	يُحَالِف، يُصَاهِر
Chinese (Simplified):	使结盟
Chinese (Traditional):	使結盟
Czech:	spojit se (s)
Danish:	alliere; forene
Dutch:	(zich)verbinden
Estonian:	liituma
Finnish:	liittoutua
French:	s'allier (à, avec)
German:	sich verbünden
Greek:	συμμαχώ
Hungarian:	szövetkezik
Icelandic:	sameina, tengja
Indonesian:	sekutu
Italian:	allearsi

Japanese:	同盟する
Korean:	동맹하다
Latvian:	apvienoties; noslēgt savienību
Lithuanian:	prisijungti, tapti sąjungininku
Norwegian:	forene, alliere
Polish:	sprzymierzać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	aliar(-se)
Portuguese (Portugal):	aliar-se
Romanian:	a se alia
Russian:	вступать в союз
Slovak:	spojiť sa (s)
Slovenian:	stopiti v zvezo (z)
Spanish:	aliarse (con)
Swedish:	alliera, förena
Turkish:	güç birliği yapmak, ittifak etmek

ally [əˈlaiˈӕlai] noun

a state, person etc allied with another
Example: The two countries were allies at that time.

Arabic:	حَلِيف
Chinese (Simplified):	同盟者
Chinese (Traditional):	同盟者
Czech:	spojenec
Danish:	allieret; forbundsfælle
Dutch:	bondgenoot
Estonian:	liitlane
Finnish:	liittolainen
French:	allié(e)
German:	der, *die Verbündete(r)
Greek:	σύμμαχος
Hungarian:	szövetséges
Icelandic:	bandamaður; bandalagsaðili
Indonesian:	bersekutu
Italian:	alleato

Japanese:	同盟国・者
Korean:	동맹국
Latvian:	sabiedrotais
Lithuanian:	sąjungininkas
Norwegian:	alliert, forbundsfelle
Polish:	sojusznik
Portuguese (Brazil):	aliado
Portuguese (Portugal):	aliado
Romanian:	aliat
Russian:	союзник
Slovak:	spojenec
Slovenian:	zaveznik
Spanish:	aliado
Swedish:	bundsförvant
Turkish:	müttefik, dost

See also: alliance, allied, "ally" in any language

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ally

Al*li"ance\, n. [OE. aliaunce, OF. aliance, F. alliance, fr. OF. alier, F. allier. See Ally, and cf. LL. alligantia.]

1. The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league; as, matrimonial alliances; an alliance between church and state; an alliance between France and England.

2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.

The alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel. --C. J. Smith.

The alliance . . . between logic and metaphysics. --Mansel.

3. The persons or parties allied. --Udall.

Syn: Connection; affinity; union; confederacy; confederation; league; coalition.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ally

Al*lied"\, a. United; joined; leagued; akin; related. See Ally.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ally

Al*li*gate\, v. t. [L. alligatus, p. p. of alligare. See Ally.] To tie; to unite by some tie.

Instincts alligated to their nature. --Sir M. Hale.