ALLYING

Verb

allying

present participle of ally

Source: Wiktionary


ALLY

Al*ly", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allied; p. pr. & vb. n. Allying.] Etym: [OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad + ligare to bind. Cf. Alligate, Alloy, Allay, Ligament.]

1. 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.

2. 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. The virtue nearest to our vice allied. Pope.

Note: Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.

Al*ly", n.; pl. Allies. Etym: [See Ally, v.]

1. A relative; a kinsman. [Obs.] Shak.

2. One united to another by treaty or league; -- usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate. The English soldiers and their French allies. Macaulay.

3. Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary. Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally. Buckle.

4. Anything akin to another by structure, etc.

Al"ly, n.

Definition: See Alley, a marble or taw.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

25 June 2025

DETENTION

(noun) a state of being confined (usually for a short time); “his detention was politically motivated”; “the prisoner is on hold”; “he is in the custody of police”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

coffee icon