Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: alier, from Latin alligare, from ad- 'to' + ligare 'to tie'

ally

2 verb
     
al‧ly2 past tense and past participle allied, present participle allying, third person singular allies
[transitive always +adverb/preposition] to help and support other people or countries, especially in a war or disagreement
ally yourself to/with somebody
Some of the northern cities allied themselves with the emperor.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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