Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ally
Al-ly′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Allied
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Allying
.] 1.
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.
O chief! in blood, and now in arms
allied
. Pope.
2.
To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.
These three did love each other dearly well,
And with so firm affection were
And with so firm affection were
allied
. Spenser.
The virtue nearest to our vice
allied
. Pope.
☞ Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
1.
A relative; a kinsman.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
One united to another by treaty or league; – usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.
The English soldiers and their French
allies
. Macaulay.
3.
Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its
ally
. Buckle.
4.
Anything akin to another by structure, etc.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ally
ALLY'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To unite, or form a relation, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league or confederacy.2.
To form a relation by similitude, resemblance or friendship. Note. This word is more generally used in the passive form, as families are allied by blood; or reciprocally, as princes ally themselves to powerful states.Definition 2024
Ally
Ally
English
Proper noun
Ally
- A diminutive of the female given names Alison, Alice and Alexandra.
- A diminutive of the male given name Alfred or of other names beginning with Al-.
Quotations
- 1880 Alfred Tennyson: To Alfred Tennyson, My Grandson:
- Golden-hair'd Ally whose name is one with mine,
- Crazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine
Anagrams
ally
ally
English
Pronunciation
- enPR: əlī', IPA(key): /əˈlaɪ/ (verb)
- enPR: ăl'ī, IPA(key): /ˈæl.aɪ/ (noun)
- Rhymes: -aɪ
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, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy
- (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope:
- O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied.
- (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope:
- (transitive) To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.
- (Can we date this quote?) Edmund Spenser:
- These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied.
- (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope:
- The virtue nearest to our vice allied.
- (Can we date this quote?) Edmund Spenser:
Usage notes
- Generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
- Often followed by to or with.
Synonyms
Translations
to unite by agreement
to form a relation on less formal basis
Noun
ally (plural allies)
- One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.
- (Can we date this quote?) Thomas Babington Macaulay:
- the English soldiers and their French allies
- (Can we date this quote?) Thomas Babington Macaulay:
- Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
- (Can we date this quote?) Buckle:
- Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.
- (Can we date this quote?) Buckle:
- Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.
- (taxonomy) A closely related species, usually within the same family.
- Gruiformes — cranes and allies
- (obsolete) A relative; a kinsman.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
Translations
one united to another by treaty or league
|
|
anything associated with another as a helper
anything akin to another by structure, etc
Related terms
Etymology 2
Diminutive of alabaster.
Noun
ally (plural allies)
References
- ally in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913