different between ally vs alliance

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English allien, alien, from Old French alier (Modern Old French allier), from Latin allig? (“to bind to”), from ad (“to”) + lig? (“to bind”). Compare alligate, allay, alloy and ligament.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ?l'?, IPA^(key): /?æl.a?/ (noun, also used for the verb)
• enPR: ?l?', IPA^(key): /??la?/ (verb, sometimes used for the noun)
• Rhymes: -a?

Verb

ally (third-person singular simple present allies, present participle allying, simple past and past participle allied)

1. (transitive) To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy.

   • O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied.

2. (transitive) To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.
   • The virtue nearest to our vice allied.

Usage notes

• Generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
• Often followed by to or with.

Synonyms

• make common cause

Translations

Noun

ally (plural allies)

1. A person, group, or state (etc) which is associated with another for a common cause; one united to another by treaty or common purpose; a confederate.
2. A person, group, concept (etc) which is associated with another as a helper; a supporter; an auxiliary.
   • 1857, Henry Thomas Buckle, History of Civilization in England:

     Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.

   1. A person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it.
   2. An outside supporter of any demographic subject to discrimination and/or misrepresentation.

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

3. Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.
4. (taxonomy) A closely related species, usually within the same family.

   Gruiformes — cranes and allies

5. (obsolete) A relative; a kinsman.
   • 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Act III, Scene 1:

     This gentleman, the prince's near ally / My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt / In my behalf

Related terms

• alliance

Translations

References

Etymology 2

Diminutive of alabaster.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?æli/

Noun

ally (plural allies)

1. Alternative form of alley (a glass marble or taw)

References

• ally in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Lyla, y'all, ya'll, yall

English

Alternative forms

• alliaunce

Etymology

From Middle English alliaunce, from Old French aliance (French: alliance). Equivalent to ally +? -ance. Compare with Doric Greek ???? (halía, "assembly").

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??la?.?ns/
• Rhymes: -a??ns

Noun

alliance (countable and uncountable, plural alliances)

1. (uncountable) The state of being allied.

2. (countable) The act of allying or uniting.
3. (countable) A union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league.
4. (countable) Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.
   • 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated

     the alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel

   • 1860, Henry Longueville Mansel, Prolegomena Logica: An Inquiry Into the Psychological Character of Logical Processes

     the alliance […] between logic and metaphysics

5. (with the definite article) The persons or parties allied.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Nicholas Udall to this entry?)

Synonyms

• (union by relationship in qualities): connection, affinity, union, allyship
• (act of allying): union
• (persons or parties allied): coalition, league, confederation, team (informal)

Related terms

• ally

Translations

Verb

alliance (third-person singular simple present alliances, present participle alliancing, simple past and past participle allianced)

1. (obsolete) To connect or unite by alliance; to ally.

Further reading

• alliance at OneLook Dictionary Search
• alliance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• ancillae, canaille

French

Etymology

allier +? -ance

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.lj??s/
• Rhymes: -??s

Noun

alliance f (plural alliances)

1. alliance, union
2. wedding ring

Descendants

• ? Polish: alians
• ? Portuguese: aliança
• ? Russian: ??????? (al?jáns), ???????? (al?jáns)
  • ? Armenian: ?????? (alyans)
  • ? Kazakh: ?????? (al?yans)
• ? Turkish: alyans

Further reading

• “alliance” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• canaille

Middle English

Noun

alliance

1. Alternative form of alliaunce