ally
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ally¹
- /ˈæl.aɪ/ UK
- /əˈlaɪ/ UK
- /ˈæl.aɪ/ US
- /əˈlaɪ/ US
Rhymes with (one pronunciation) -aɪ
Where it comes from
From Middle English allien, alien (“to form an alliance, associate, join; to become an ally; to introduce (someone) as an ally; to marry; to become related (to someone); to attack, engage in combat; to combine; (cooking) to combine ingredients, especially to bind them together”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier [and other forms], and Old French alier (“to join together, unite; to alloy (metals); (cooking) to combine ingredients”) (modern French allier), from Latin alligāre, the present active infinitive of alligō, adligō (“to bind around, to, or up (something), bandage, fasten, fetter, tie; to hold fast; to detain, hinder”), from al-, ad- (intensifying prefix) + ligō (“to bind, tie; to bandage, wrap around; to unite”) (from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind, tie”)). Doublet of allay, alligate, alloy, and ligament.
verb allies · allying · allied · ally
- To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. Theſe three did loue each other dearely well, / And with ſo firme affection were allyde, / As if but one ſoule in them all did dvvell, / VVhich did her povvre into three parts diuyde; […]
- Chiefly followed by to or with: to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature. Yes in good ſooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is vvell allied, but it is impoſſible to extirpe it quite, Frier, till eating and drinking be put dovvne.
- To join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else. To be ſhort, hauing thus ingrafted them into the body of his [God's] Sonne, he ioyneth and allieth him ſelfe to them, he maketh him ſelfe one with them, maketh them his children and heyres, partakers of his immortalitie and glorie, and all this he worketh by the inward vertue of his holy Ghost, […]
-
Chiefly followed by with: to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim.
[A]ftervvards he [Constantine the Great] allied vvith Licinius, and gave him his Siſter in marriage, and acknovvledged him his Colleague in the Empire.
Similar: make common cause
ally²
Where it comes from
From Middle English allie, alie [and other forms], probably partly:
* from allien (verb): see etymology 1; and
* from Anglo-Norman allié, alié, alyé, allyé, Middle French allié, alié, allyé (“associate, supporter; friend; relative; person, state, etc., associated or united with another by alliance or treaty”), and Old French alliiet (“military or political ally”) (modern French allié), a noun use of the past participle of Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier, and Old French alier (verb): see etymology 1.
noun allies
- A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend. [N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide.
- A person who, or organization which, supports a demographic group subject to discrimination and/or misrepresentation but is not a member of the group; specifically (LGBTQ), a person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it. I’m glad you want to be a better ally to the disabled.
- A person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose; a confederate. The two countries were allies in World War I.
- Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature. the pretty Pansy then Ile tye / Like Stones some Chaine inchasing, / And next to them their neere Alye, / The purple Violet placing.
- An organism which is related to another organism through common evolutionary origin; specifically, a species which is closely related to another species, usually within the same family. The order of Gruiformes includes cranes and their allies.
- A person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter. [S]cience, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.
- A kinsman or kinswoman; a relative. This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie. / My very frend hath tane this mortall vvound / In my behalfe, […]
noun
- One's relatives; kin, kindred, relations; also, relationship through descent or marriage; kinship. The ſpider: as of vſe in talke new entrid, / (Frendes axe of frends: the ſtate of their frends frendly,) / Axte how his coſins (thants father and mother) did. / His brothers ſiſters with all kyn and aly, / Thant ſaid thei did well.
- People, groups, states, etc., which are associated or united with each other for a common purpose; confederates; also, the state of being allied; alliance, confederation.
ally³
- /ˈæli/
Where it comes from
See alley.
noun allies
- Alternative spelling of alley (“a glass marble or taw”).
Ally⁴
- /ˈæliː/
Where it comes from
Diminutives + -y.
proper noun Allys · Allie
- A diminutive of the female given names Alice, Alison, Alexandra, and other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages or Ancient Greek. Where’s my Girle? What Ally? Ally? / Enter Alice.
- A diminutive of the male given names Alfred, Albert, Alan, Alexander, and other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages, the Celtic languages, or Ancient Greek. Ally Love
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: friend, confederate, alliance, coalition, associate, compatriot, unionize, supporter, backer, crony, comrade, helper, conjunction, combine, combination, partner
Translations
Every language
verb to unite or form a connection between (people or things)
| Español | aliar, unir, alianzar |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 結盟 /结盟 jiéméng |
| Português | aliar |
| Français | allier |
| Italiano | alleare, fare alleanza |
| Română | alia, uni |
verb to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature
| Español | aliar, alianzar |
|---|
verb to join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else
| Español | aliarse, alianzarse, coligarse, coaligarse |
|---|
verb to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim
| Español | aliarse, alianzarse |
|---|
noun person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it
| 日本語 | アライ arai |
|---|---|
| Português | simpatizante |
noun person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose
| Español | aliado, aliada |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 동맹국 dongmaengguk, 아군 agun |
| 日本語 | 同盟国 dōmeikoku, 味方 mikata |
| 中文 | 盟國 /盟国 méngguó |
| हिन्दी | मित्र mitra |
| Português | aliado, aliada |
| Français | allié, alliée |
| Deutsch | Alliierter, Alliierte, Bundesgenosse, Bundesgenossin, Verbündeter, Verbündete |
| Italiano | alleato, alleata |
| Ελληνικά | σύμμαχος sýmmachos |
| Română | aliat, aliată |
| Русский | сою́зник sojúznik, сою́зница sojúznica |
| Tiếng Việt | nước đồng minh |
| العربية | حَلِيف ḥalīf, حَلِيفَة ḥalīfa |
| עברית | בַּעַל בְּרִית ba'al brit |
Talk about this word "ally." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ally. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. ally. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ally "ally." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ally.Cite this
@misc{ally_2026,
title = {ally},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ally},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
