different between follower vs ally

English

Etymology

From Middle English folwer, folwere, fol?ere, from Old English folgere (“follower; attendant; disciple”), equivalent to follow +? -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foulger, West Frisian folger, Dutch volger, German Folger, Swedish följare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?l???(?)/

Noun

follower (plural followers)

1. (literally) One who follows, comes after another.
2. Something that comes after another thing.
3. One who is a part of master's physical group, such as a servant or retainer.
5. One who follows mentally, adherer to the opinions, ideas or teachings of another, a movement etc.
6. An imitator, who follows another's example.
7. A pursuer.
8. (Internet) An account holder who subscribes to see content from another account on a social media platform.
9. A machine part receiving motion from another.
10. A man courting a maidservant.
11. Young cattle.
12. A metal piece placed at the top of a candle to keep the wax melting evenly.
13. (Australian rules football) Any of the three players (the ruckman, ruck rover, and rover) who usually follow the ball around the ground rather than occupying a fixed position.
14. (colloquial, dated) A debt collector.

Antonyms

• leader
• precursor

Derived terms

• followership
• nonfollower

Related terms

• following

Translations

Anagrams

• fowl-lore, refollow

French

Etymology

From English follower.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f?.l?.wœ?/

Noun

follower m (plural followers)

1. (Internet) follower (on Twitter and similar sites)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f?.l?.we/

Verb

follower

1. (Internet) To follow (on Twitter and similar sites)

Conjugation

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