Etymologically
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allié

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.lje/[1]

Forms

allié (feminine alliée, masculine plural alliés, feminine plural alliées)[1] Recorded as alliiet in 1316.[2][3]

Etymology

Used as an adjective and a noun, it is the past participle from French allier (“to ally, unite”).[4][2][5][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date the form alliiet to 1316; the GLLF finds the word in Jean le Bel's chronicle, about 1356.[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The legal sense “related by marriage” is recorded from 1536–1539.[2][3] The plural les Alliés, with a capital, came to mean the powers allied against Germany in the two world wars of the 20th century;[3][5] the Grand Robert also uses it of the powers that fought Napoleon I and restored the Bourbons.[2]

In 1823 theatre slang called hired applauders alliés, beside Romains.[6]

Timeline

  • 1316 – Alliiet.[2][3]
  • c. 1356 – Jean le Bel's chronicle.[5]
  • 1536 – Allié in the sense “related by marriage”.[2]
  • 1823 – Theatre slang for a member of a hired claque.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Joined by a treaty of alliance: les pays alliés.[3][7]
  2. (history) Of the Allies in the two world wars: le commandement allié.[3]
  3. (law) Related by marriage: une famille alliée aux Bourbons.[3][5]

Noun

  1. An ally, a country bound by an alliance, les Alliés, the Allies of the world wars.[3][5]
  2. A person who gives another support or takes their side.[3][5]
  3. (law) A relative by marriage: les parents et alliés.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)