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ally definition

ally (ə lī′, a-; also, and for n. usually, al′ī)

transitive verb allied -·lied′, allying -·ly′·ing

  1. to unite or associate for a specific purpose, as families by marriage, nations by treaty, or companies by agreement: generally used reflexively or in the passive
  2. to relate by similarity of structure, certain qualities, etc.: usually in the passive the onion is allied to the lily

Etymology: ME alien < OFr alier < L alligare < ad-, to + ligare, to bind: see ligature

intransitive verb

to become allied

noun pl. allies -·lies

  1. a country, person, or group joined with another or others for a common purpose
  2. a plant, animal, or thing closely related in structure, etc. to another
  3. an associate; helper; auxiliary

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ally Synonyms

ally

n.

confederate, partner, collaborator; see associate. See syn. study atassociate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ally Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • proletariat: Had Chiang Kai-shek been a reliable ally of the proletariat in the Chinese Revolution?

Adjective modifier

  • loyal: His only interest seems to be working and inventing gadgets for MI6, he is a very loyal ally to Her Majesty The Queen.

Noun used with modifier

  • usu-: The corresponding pointer argument must usu- ally be of a restricted type.
ally usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ally quotes

Under a more heroic Minister, and in a less self-seeking age, it is probablethat England would have preferred the risk, whatever its extent, to the infamy of betraying an ally whom she had enticed into peril. But our Ministry is not heroic; and our generation, though not indifferent to glory, prefers it when it is safe and cheap.

-of Salisbury

Of all tyrannies in history, the Bolshevik tyranny is the worst, the most destructive, the most degrading. Every British and French soldier killed last year was really done to death by Lenin and Trotskyönot in fair war, but by the treacherous desertion of an ally without parallel in the history of the world.

-Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

   Time is the101st Senator†the ally of the people who want to do nothing.

-Dodd, ChristopherJ

ally quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"ally." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ally>

APA Style

ally. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ally

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