ally English · revision 7749

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la alligo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæl.aɪ/, /əˈlaɪ/; /ˈæl.aɪ/, /əˈlaɪ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English allien, [[bor|fro|alier|t=to combine, unite]], allier,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) an analogical form of aleier,^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) from Latin [[m|la|alligo|alt=alligāre|t=to bind to]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from ad-, to, and ligāre, to bind,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from PIE [[ine-pro|*leyǵ-|alt=*leig-|t=to tie, bind]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[alloy]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To unite, join in affinity or marriage: 1297 in the OED, about 1300 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To form an alliance, join or associate is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and to mix ingredients an obsolete sense of 1392.^(OED 1989) The noun first meant a relative or kinsman, a sense now obsolete,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) partly from Old French alié, allied;^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) probably about 1375, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988) One united with another by treaty or league is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''The Allies'' were the nations against the Central Powers in the First World War (from 1914) and against Germany, Italy and Japan in the Second (from 1939).^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – to unite.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1375 – a kinsman (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to form an alliance.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – a party to a treaty.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1914 – the Allies.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To unite or join, as by [[treaty]], [[alliance]] or marriage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To connect through similarity or relationship.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A country, person or group joined with another, especially by treaty.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or group that helps or supports another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the Allies)'' The nations allied against the Central Powers in the First World War, or against the Axis in the Second.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alliable]]

+ * [[misally]]

+ * [[re-ally]]

+ * [[allied]]

+ * [[Allies]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alliance]]

+ * [[alloy]]

+ * [[ligament]]

+ * [[league]]

+ * [[oblige]]

+ * [[rely]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}