ally
pronunciation
How to pronounce ally in British English:
UK [ˈælaɪ , əˈlaɪ]
How to pronounce ally in American English:
US [ˈælaɪ , əˈlaɪ]
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- Noun:
- a friendly nation
- an associate who provides assistance
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- Verb:
- become an ally or associate, as by a treaty or marriage
Word Origin
- 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 alligāre ‘bind one thing to another’, a derivative of ligāre ‘tie’; 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.=> alloy, ligament
- ally (v.)
- late 13c., "to join in marriage," from Old French alier "combine, unite," from a differentiated stem of aliier (from Latin alligare "bind to;" see alloy). Meaning "to form an alliance, join, associate" is late 14c. Related: allied; allying.
- ally (n.)
- late 14c., "relative, kinsman," from ally (v.); mid-15c. in the sense of "one united with another by treaty or league."
Synonym
adjutant man hand coadjutor right subsidiary acolyte helper attendant second Friday coadjutant auxiliary deputy right-hand
Example
- 1. China is north korea 's closest ally .
- 2. China is north korea 's most important ally .
- 3. He is the closest ally of your dreams !
- 4. Even the main trade union federation , an ally of the anc , is edgy .
- 5. A third entrant is pdvsa , the state oil company of venezuela , cuba 's ally and benefactor .