Word Study
ally
CIDE DICTIONARY
ally, v. t. [OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad + ligare to bind. Cf. Alligate, Alloy, Allay, Ligament.].
- To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy; -- often followed by to or with. [1913 Webster]"O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied." [1913 Webster]
- To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love. [1913 Webster]" Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively." [1913 Webster]"These three did love each other dearly well,
And with so firm affection were allied." [1913 Webster]"The virtue nearest to our vice allied." [1913 Webster]
- A relative; a kinsman. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- One united to another by treaty or league; -- usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate. [1913 Webster]"The English soldiers and their French allies." [1913 Webster]
- Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary. [1913 Webster]"Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally." [1913 Webster]
- Anything akin to another by structure, etc. [1913 Webster]
ally, n.
See Alley, a marble or taw. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ally, n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies)
1 a State formally cooperating or united with another for a special purpose, esp. by a treaty.
2 a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another.
--v.tr. also (-ies, -ied) (often foll. by with) combine or unite in alliance.
--n. (pl. -ies)
1 a State formally cooperating or united with another for a special purpose, esp. by a treaty.
2 a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another.
--v.tr. also (-ies, -ied) (often foll. by with) combine or unite in alliance.
ally, n. (also alley) (pl. -ies or -eys) a choice playing-marble made of marble, alabaster, or glass.
Etymology
perh. dimin. of ALABASTER
THESAURUS
ally
accessory, accomplice, act in concert, act together, adjunct, affiliate, alter ego, amalgamate, analogon, analogue, apply, archduchy, archdukedom, associate, band, band together, be in cahoots, be in league, bedfellow, bind, body politic, bracket, brother, brother-in-arms, buffer state, bunch, bunch up, cabal, captive nation, cement a union, centralize, chieftaincy, chieftainry, city-state, close copy, close match, club, club together, coact, coadjutor, coalesce, cognate, cohort, collaborate, collaborator, colleague, collude, colony, combine, come together, commonweal, commonwealth, companion, compatriot, compeer, complement, comrade, concert, concord, concur, confederate, confrere, congenator, congener, connect, consociate, consolidate, consort, conspire, cooperate, coordinate, correlate, correlative, correspondent, counterpart, country, county, couple, crony, do business with, domain, dominion, draw a parallel, duchy, dukedom, earldom, empery, empire, equate, equivalent, federalize, federate, fellow, fellow member, free city, friend, fuse, gang, gang up, get heads together, get together, go in partners, go in partnership, go partners, grand duchy, hang together, harmonize, hold together, hook up, hook up with, identify, image, interrelate, join, join forces, join fortunes with, join in, join together, join up, join up with, join with, keep together, kindred spirit, kingdom, land, league, league together, like, likeness, link, make common cause, mandant, mandate, mandated territory, mandatee, mandatory, marry, mate, merge, nation, nationality, near duplicate, obverse, organize, pair, pair off, parallel, parallelize, partner, pendant, picture, play ball, polis, polity, possession, power, principality, principate, protectorate, province, pull together, puppet government, puppet regime, put heads together, realm, reciprocal, reciprocate, relate, relativize, republic, satellite, second self, seneschalty, settlement, side, similitude, simulacrum, sister, soul mate, sovereign nation, stand together, stand up with, state, such, suchlike, sultanate, superpower, tally, team up, team up with, team with, territory, the like of, the likes of, throw in together, throw in with, tie, tie in, tie in with, tie up, tie up with, toparchia, toparchy, twin, unionize, unite, unite efforts, unite with, wed, work togetherROGET THESAURUS
ally
Aid
N aid, aidance, assistance, help, opitulation, succor, support, lift, advance, furtherance, promotion, coadjuvancy, patronage, championship, countenance, favor, interest, advocacy, sustentation, subvention, alimentation, nutrition, nourishment, eutrophy, manna in the wilderness, food, means, ministry, ministration, subministration, accommodation, relief, rescue, help at a dead lift, supernatural aid, deus ex machina, supplies, reinforcements, reenforcements, succors, contingents, recruits, support, adjunct, ally, aiding, auxiliary, adjuvant, helpful, coadjuvant, subservient, ministrant, ancillary, accessory, subsidiary, at one's beck, at one's beck and call, friendly, amicable, favorable, propitious, well-disposed, neighborly, obliging, with the aid, by the aid of, on behalf of, in behalf of, in aid of, in the service of, in the name of, in favor of, in furtherance of, on account of, for the sake of, on the part of, non obstante, Int, help!, save us!, to the rescue!, alterum alterius auxilio eget, God befriend us as our cause is just, at your service.Auxiliary
N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.Friend
N friend, friend of one's bosom, alter ego, best friend, bosom friend, soulmate, fast friend, amicus, usque ad aras, fidus Achates, persona grata, acquaintance, neighbor, next-door neighbor, casual acquaintance, nodding acquaintance, wellwisher, favorer, fautor, patron, Mecaenas, tutelary saint, good genius, advocate, partisan, sympathizer, ally, friend in need, comrade, mate, companion, familiar, confrere, comrade, camarade, confidante, intimate, old crony, crony, chum, pal, buddy, bosom buddy, playfellow, playmate, childhood friend, bedfellow, bedmate, chamber fellow, associate, colleague, compeer, schoolmate, schoolfellow, classfellow, classman, classmate, roommate, fellow-man, stable companion, best man, maid of honor, matron of honor, compatriot, fellow countryman, countryman, shopmate, fellow-worker, shipmate, messmate, fellow companion, boon companion, pot companion, copartner, partner, senior partner, junior partner, Arcades ambo Pylades and Orestes Castor and Pollux, Nisus and Euryalus, Damon and Pythias, par nobile fratrum, host, Amphitryon, Boniface, guest, visitor, prot_eg_e, amici probantur rebus adversis, ohne bruder kann man leben nicht ohne Freund, best friend, my well-spring in the wilderness, conocidos muchos amigos pocos, friend more divine than all divinities, vida sin amigo muerte sin testigo.Marriage
VB marry, wive, take to oneself a wife, be married, be spliced, go off, pair off, wed, espouse, get hitched, lead to the hymeneal altar, take 'for better for worse', give one's hand to, bestow one's hand upon, marry, join, handfast, couple, tie the nuptial knot, give away, give away in marriage, seal, ally, affiance, betroth, publish the banns, bid the banns, be asked in church.For further exploring for "ally" in Webster Dictionary Online