different between auxiliary vs ally

English

Etymology

From Latin auxili?rius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxili?ris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from aug?re (“to increase”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??k?s?lj??i/, /??k?s?li.??i/, /??k?s?l??i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???z?lj??i/, /???z?li??i/, /???z?l??i/
• (cot-caught merged) IPA^(key): /???z?lj??i/, /???z?li??i/, /???z?l??i/
• Rhymes: -?li??i
• Rhymes: -?li???i

Adjective

auxiliary (not comparable)

1. Helping; giving assistance or support.

   auxiliary troops

   Synonyms: ancillary, accessory

2. Supplementary or subsidiary.
3. Held in reserve for exceptional circumstances.
4. (nautical) Of a ship, having both sails and an engine.
5. (grammar) Relating to an auxiliary verb.

Synonyms

• (supplementary): accessory
• (having sails and engine): motorsailer

Translations

Noun

auxiliary (plural auxiliaries)

1. A person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.
2. A sailing vessel equipped with an engine.
3. (grammar) An auxiliary verb.

   • The three traditionally recognized Non-modal Auxiliaries are the per-
     fective Auxiliary have, the progressive Auxiliary be, and the passive Auxiliary
     be. Perfective have is so-called because it marks the completion (hence, perfec-
     tion) of an action; it is followed by a VP headed by a perfective -n participle, as
     in:
     (121)    The referee has [_VP shown him the red card]

4. A marching band colorguard.

Translations

Related terms

• auction
• auctioneer
• augment
• augmentation

See also

• axillary

Further reading

• auxiliary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• auxiliary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

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