ally

ally · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*leyǵ-“to bind, tie”
2. Latin · derived fromalligāre
3. Old French · derived fromalier“to join together, unite; to alloy (metals); (cooking) to combine ingredients”
4. Middle French · derived fromalier
5. Anglo-Norman · derived fromalier
6. Middle English · inherited fromallien
7. English todayally

From Middle English allien, alien (“to form an alliance, associate, join; to become an ally; to introduce (someone) as an ally; to marry; to become related (to someone); to attack, engage in combat; to combine; (cooking) to combine ingredients, especially to bind them together”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier [and other forms], and Old French alier (“to join together, unite; to alloy (metals); (cooking) to combine ingredients”) (modern French allier), from Latin alligāre, the present active infinitive of alligō, adligō (“to bind around, to, or up (something), bandage, fasten, fetter, tie; to hold fast; to detain, hinder”), from al-, ad- (intensifying prefix) + ligō (“to bind, tie; to bandage, wrap around; to unite”) (from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind, tie”)). Doublet of allay, alligate, alloy, and ligament.

ally · noun, noun²

1. Old French · derived fromalier
2. Middle French · derived fromalier
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromalier
4. Old French · derived fromalliiet“military or political ally”
5. Middle French · derived fromallié
6. Anglo-Norman · derived fromallié
7. Middle English · inherited fromallie
8. English todayally

From Middle English allie, alie [and other forms], probably partly: * from allien (verb): see etymology 1; and * from Anglo-Norman allié, alié, alyé, allyé, Middle French allié, alié, allyé (“associate, supporter; friend; relative; person, state, etc., associated or united with another by alliance or treaty”), and Old French alliiet (“military or political ally”) (modern French allié), a noun use of the past participle of Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier, and Old French alier (verb): see etymology 1.

ally · noun³

See alley.

Ally · proper noun⁴

Diminutives + -y.

Words from the same roots