Etymologically
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alligo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:06. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈal.lɪ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal.li.ɡo][1]

Forms

alligō (present infinitive alligāre, perfect active alligāvī, supine alligātum); first conjugation[1] It is also spelled adligō.[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- and ligō “to bind”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of binding by an oath, and Cato, of bandaging.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to tie or fasten one thing to another, as in Varro, to tie up, as in Columella, and to bandage, as in Cato, who also used it for assigning to a purpose.[2] Cicero has ad statuam alligāre “to tie to a statue” and used it for chaining, for attaching someone by ties of affection, and for involving someone in the operation of a law.[2][5] Vitruvius used it for bonding together, and Terence for pinning someone down.[2]

It survives in Italian allegare and Romanian alega.[1] Through Old French alier it gave English ally in the late 13th century, and through aloiier it gave English alloy.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of binding by oath.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of bandaging.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of chaining and of ties of affection.[2][4]
  • late 13th century – English ally is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To tie, bind, fasten.[2]
  2. To bandage.[2]
  3. To bond together.[2]
  4. To chain, fetter.[2]
  5. To attach (by kinship or affection).[2]
  6. To bind (by oath); to make liable.[2]

Word family

  • adalligō
  • alligamentum
  • alligātiō
  • alligātor
  • alligatura

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press