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noun (allies)
- One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.
- The German soldiers and their Russian allies. --Macaulay.
- Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
- Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally. --Buckle.
- Anything akin to another by structure, etc.
verb (rfc-level, Verb at L4+ not in L3 POS section)
(all, i, ed)
- (transitive) 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.
- (transitive) 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 allied. --Spenser.
- Note: Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
- The virtue nearest to our vice allied. --Pope.
Etymology: From alien, alier, French alier, from alligare, to bind to, from ad, to + ''ligare, to bind. Compare alligate, allay, alloy and ligament.
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Full Definition of ally |
