ally

present singular third person allies · participle present allying · participle past allied · past allied · first person past singular allied · present second person singular allyest · past second person singular allied · present singular third person allies · present singular third person allyeth · past singular third person allied · past plural allied · past subjunctive allied · participle present allying · participle past allied

1. transitiveTo unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.

   She died; and her place was supplied by a German princess nearly allied to the Imperial House.

   1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXIII, in Lady Trevelyan (Hannah More Macaulay), editor, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume V, London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, →OCLC, page 103

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   Theſe three did loue each other dearely well, / And with ſo firme affection were allyde, / As if but one ſoule in them all did dvvell, / VVhich did her povvre into three parts diuyde; […]

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 43, page 33

   [W]hen hee's remou'd, your Highneſſe / VVill take againe your Queene, as yours at firſt, / Euen for your Sonnes ſake, and thereby for ſealing / The Iniurie of Tongues, in Courts and Kingdomes / Knovvne, and ally'd to yours.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 280, column 2

   That this coniunction doth not ioyne the ſubſtances, but vniteth the affections, and allyeth the wils.

   1612, Pierre Du Moulin, “That as Well the Carnall Presence of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist: As also Transubstantiation was Not Belieued in the Former Ages of the Christian Church”, in Edward Skipwith, transl., An Apology for the Holy Supper of the Lord: […], London: […] [[w:Thomas Snodham|T[homas] S[nodham]] and W. Hall] for Nathaniell Butter, […], →OCLC, page 50

   Solomon preferreth her [Pharaoh's daughter] before the reſt of his vvives, for they vvere of Nations that vvere his Subjects, but ſhe the daughter of an intire King, and by this match he allieth that potent King to him, and ſecureth himſelf the better abroad; […]

   1634, John Lightfoot, “A Chronicle of the Times, and the Order of the Texts of the Old Testament. [The First Book of Kings.]”, in George Bright, editor, The Works of the Reverend and Learned John Lightfoot D.D. […], London: […] W[illiam] R[awlins] for Robert Scot […], Thomas Basset […], Richard Chiswell […], and John Wright […], →OCLC, page 73

   And novv the VVarriors paſſing on the vvay, / The graceful Paris firſt excus'd his Stay. / To vvhom the noble Hector thus reply'd: / O Chief! in Blood, and novv in Arms, ally'd! / Thy povv'r in VVar vvith Juſtice none conteſt; / Knovvn is thy Courage, and thy Strength confeſt.

   1716, Homer, “Book VI”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, pages 147–148, lines 664–669

2. transitiveChiefly followed by to or with: to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature.

   Great VVits are ſure to Madneſs near ally'd; / And thin Partitions do their Bounds divide: […]

   1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], →OCLC, page 6

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   Yes in good ſooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is vvell allied, but it is impoſſible to extirpe it quite, Frier, till eating and drinking be put dovvne.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 73, column 2

   Thus Nature gives us (let it check our Pride) / The virtue neareſt to our Vice ally'd; / Reaſon the Byas turns to Good from Ill, / And Nero reigns a Titus, if he vvill.

   1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle II, London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC, page 13

3. reflexivetransitiveTo join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else.

   Poor Poverty! […] Well art thou in the right when thou alliest thyself to Vice and Crime.

   1887, Heinrich Heine, “English Fragments. London.”, in Mr. Leland, transl., edited by Havelock Ellis, The Prose Writings of Heinrich Heine: […] (The Camelot Series), London: Walter Scott […], →OCLC, page 51

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   To be ſhort, hauing thus ingrafted them into the body of his [God's] Sonne, he ioyneth and allieth him ſelfe to them, he maketh him ſelfe one with them, maketh them his children and heyres, partakers of his immortalitie and glorie, and all this he worketh by the inward vertue of his holy Ghost, […]

   1577, Peter de la Place [i.e. Pierre de la Place], “Of the Excellencie of a Christian Man, and the Way to Knowe Him”, in L[aurence] Tomson, transl., A Treatise of the Excellencie of a Christian Man, and Howe He may be Knowen. […], London: […] Christopher Barkar, […], →OCLC

   [W]e have ſo many of our firſt Titled Families vvho have ally'd themſelves to Trade, (vvhoſe Inducements vvere Money only) that it ceaſes to be either a VVonder as to the Fact, or a Diſgrace to the Honour.

   1742, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXIX”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], volume III, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 172

   And do we upbraid thee [rain], in our heartless stupidity, because, rather than withhold thy life-giving dispensations, thou allyest thy gentle nature with thy opposites, and comest in unwelcome company—in chilly league with Eurus, or riding on the stormy wings of night-confounding Aquilo— […]

   1841, W[illia]m H. Simmons, “Rain. A Colloquial Lecture.”, in [George Stillman Hillard], editor, The Boston Book. Being Specimens of Metropolitan Literature, Boston, Mass.: George W. Light, […], →OCLC, page 306

   [George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax] had seen that the settlement of the government could be effected on Whig principles only, and who had therefore, for the time, allied himself closely with the Whigs.

   1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter X, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 626

   A wise damsel walketh up and down discreetly in the world, minding her affairs: she regardeth not the pleading of vain lovers, but taketh counsel with her friends and allieth herself at last to one of true worth. Then she giveth up her whole heart to the service of her husband, and receiveth from him again his love and strong help and the flower of his estate beyond calcuation or desire.

   1861, [T. John Vickers], “The Book of Counsels”, in The New Koran of the Pacifican Friendhood: or Text-book of Turkish Reformers, in the Teaching and Example of Their Esteemed Master Jaido Morata, London: George Mainwaring, […], →OCLC, chapter XXIX, verses 24–25, page 375, column 1

4. intransitiveChiefly followed by with: to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim.

   Whatever injuries […] the Athenians have done me I forgive. […] If they will ally with me, rebuild the temples I have burnt.

   1837, Edward Lytton Bulwer [i.e., Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VIII, in Athens: Its Rise and Fall: […], volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book III (From the Battle of Marathon to the Battles of Platæa and Mycale, B.C. 490 – B.C. 479), page 195

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   [A]ftervvards he [Constantine the Great] allied vvith Licinius, and gave him his Siſter in marriage, and acknovvledged him his Colleague in the Empire.

   1673, Gilbert Burnet, “The First Conference”, in A Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and Laws of the Church and State of Scotland. […], Glasgow: Robert Sanders, […], →OCLC, page 62

   Synonyms: make common cause

plural allies

1. A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.

   He became the ally of a boy named Aubrey Mills and founded with him a gang of adventurers in the avenue.

   1916, James Joyce, chapter II, in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, New York, N.Y.: B[enjamin] W. Huebsch, →OCLC, page 68

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   [N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide.

   1660, [Richard Allestree], “Sect[ion] V. Of the Second Advantage, Wealth.”, in The Gentlemans Calling, London: […] T[imothy] Garthwait […], →OCLC, page 83

   The rights of the ſeven Electors were ſupported by all the deſcendants and allies of their powerful families, who ſhared in the ſplendor and influence, which they enjoyed by this diſtinguiſhing privilege.

   1769, William Robertson, “Proofs and Illustrations. Note XLI. Sect. III. p. 186.”, in The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. […], volume I, London: […] W. and W. Strahan, for W[illiam] Strahan, T[homas] Cadell, […]; and J. Balfour, […], →OCLC, page 381

   […] Christy and his trusty ally, the one armed with a fowling piece, the other with an ancient blunderbuss, turned out as sentries to keep watch over this donjon keep.

   1822 May 21, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Culprit”, in Bracebridge Hall, or The Humourists. A Medley. […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 197

   1. A person who, or organization which, supports a demographic group subject to discrimination and/or misrepresentation but is not a member of the group; specifically (LGBTQ), a person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it.

      I’m glad you want to be a better ally to the disabled.

2. A person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose; a confederate.

   The two countries were allies in World War I.

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   To be ſo ſcornefull to your alye⸝ / Your counſeyle was not worth a flye.

   [1513], John Skelton, A Ballade of the Scottysshe Kynge, [London: Richard Fawkes], →OCLC; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, […], 1882, →OCLC, page [94]

   If thou deſire to make vvarre vvith a Prince, vvith vvhom thou haſt formerly ratified a league; aſſaile ſome Ally of his, rather then himſelfe: […] his infidelity in not aſſiſting his Ally, vvill be diſcovered: Hereby thou ſhalt gaine thy ſelfe advantage, and facilitate thy deſignes.

   1640, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “[The First Century.] Chapter IX.”, in Enchiridion: Containing Institutions, Divine, Contemplative, Practical. Moral, Ethical, Oeconomicall, Politicall, London: […] R. F., published 1644, →OCLC, 1st book

   During some days indeed there was great reason to fear that the enemy would be entertained with a bloody fight between the English soldiers and their French allies.

   1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 427

   Even before she begs Jon to keep his identity a secret, she reeks of desperation; in order to gain an ally that isn’t already in her entourage, she sets Gendry Baratheon né Rivers up in Storm’s End.

   2019 May 5, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2021

3. Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature.

   And novv from the Head and Mouth, paſs vve to it's near Allie the Stomach, another no leſs notable than uſeful Part; […]

   1713, W[illiam] Derham, “[A Survey of the Particular Tribes of Animals.] Of the Head, Stomach, and Other Parts of Birds.”, in Physico-Theology: Or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. […], London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], →OCLC, book VII (A Survey of Birds), page 384

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   the pretty Pansy then Ile tye / Like Stones some Chaine inchasing, / And next to them their neere Alye, / The purple Violet placing.

   1630, Michael Drayton, “[The Muses Elizium.] The Fift Nimphall.”, in Cyril Brett, editor, Minor Poems of Michael Drayton, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, published 1907, →OCLC, page 198, lines 113–115

   The Aleptick art, and, its neereſt ally, Medicine, are deſign'd for the cure of bodies, reducing the faculties to the beſt harmony; […]

   1659–1660, Thomas Stanley, “[Timæus the Locrian. Of the Soul of the World, and of Nature.]”, in The History of Philosophy, the Third and Last Volume, […], volume III, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Containing the Italick Sects), pages 134–135

   The frozen Earth lies buried there, belovv / A hilly heap, ſev'n Cubits deep in Snovv: / And all the VVeſt Allies of ſtormy Boreas blovv.

   1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 112, lines 547–549

   1. biologyAn organism which is related to another organism through common evolutionary origin; specifically, a species which is closely related to another species, usually within the same family.

      The order of Gruiformes includes cranes and their allies.

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      Procyonids (raccoons and their allies), a group of North American origin, are first recorded in South America in a level immediately below a unit dated at 6.0 million years.

      1979, Larry G. Marshall et al., “Calibration of the Great American Interchange: A radioisotope chronology for Late Tertiary interchange of terrestrial faunas between the Americas.”, in Science, volume 204, number 4390, →DOI, pages 272–279

4. figurativelyA person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter.

   [S]cience, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.

   1861, Henry Thomas Buckle, “An Examination of the Scotch Intellect during the Eighteenth Century”, in History of Civilization in England, volume II, London: Parker, Son, and Bourn, […], →OCLC, page 596

5. historicalobsoleteA kinsman or kinswoman; a relative.

   This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie. / My very frend hath tane this mortall vvound / In my behalfe, […]

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

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   Finally there was a quiet wedding at the Towers, […] The Sellerses were to go to England with their new allies for a brief visit, but when it was time to take the train from Washington, the colonel was missing.

   1892, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXV, in The American Claimant, New York, N.Y.: Charles L[uther] Webster & Co., →OCLC, page 269

1. obsoletepluralplural onlyOne's relatives; kin, kindred, relations; also, relationship through descent or marriage; kinship.

   The ſpider: as of vſe in talke new entrid, / (Frendes axe of frends: the ſtate of their frends frendly,) / Axte how his coſins (thants father and mother) did. / His brothers ſiſters with all kyn and aly, / Thant ſaid thei did well.

   1556, John Heywood, chapter 29, in The Spider and the Flie. […], London: […] Tho[mas] Powell, →OCLC; republished as A[dolphus] W[illiam] Ward, editor, The Spider and the Flie. […] (Publications of the Spenser Society, New Series; 6), Manchester: […] [Charles E. Simms] for the Spenser Society, 1894, →OCLC, page 135

2. obsoletepluralplural onlyPeople, groups, states, etc., which are associated or united with each other for a common purpose; confederates; also, the state of being allied; alliance, confederation.

plural allies

1. alternativeobsoleteAlternative spelling of alley (“a glass marble or taw”).

plural Allys · alternative Allie

1. A diminutive of the female given names Alice, Alison, Alexandra, and other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages or Ancient Greek.

   Where’s my Girle? What Ally? Ally? / Enter Alice.

   1637–1638 (date written), Richard Brome, “The Damoiselle, or The New Ordinary. A Comedy.”, in A[lexander] Brome, editor, Five New Playes, […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, Richard Marriot, and Thomas Dring, […], published 1653, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signature A4, verso

2. A diminutive of the male given names Alfred, Albert, Alan, Alexander, and other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages, the Celtic languages, or Ancient Greek.

   Ally Love

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   Golden-hair'd Ally whose name is one with mine, Crazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine

   1880, Alfred Tennyson, To Alfred Tennyson, My Grandson