ally
noun
[ ˈalʌɪ ]
• a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.
• "debate continued among NATO allies"
ally
verb
• combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit.
• "he allied his racing experience with his father's business acumen"
Similar:
combine,
marry,
couple,
merge,
amalgamate,
join,
pool,
fuse,
weld,
knit,
Origin:
Middle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare ‘bind together’, from ad- ‘to’ + ligare ‘to bind’; the noun is partly via Old French alie ‘allied’. Compare with alloy.
ally
noun
• variant spelling of alley2.
-ally
suffix
• forming adverbs from adjectives ending in -al (such as radically from radical ).
alley
noun
• a toy marble made of marble, alabaster, or glass.
Origin:
early 18th century: perhaps a diminutive of alabaster.
