ally: [13] The verb ally was borrowed into English from Old French alier, an alteration of aleier (a different development of the Old French word was aloier, which English acquired as alloy). This came from Latin alligāre ‘bind one thing to another’, a derivative of ligāre ‘tie’; hence the idea etymologically contained in being ‘allied’ is of having a bond with somebody else.
The noun ally seems originally to have been independently borrowed from Old French allié in the 14th century, with the meaning ‘relative’. The more common modern sense, ‘allied person or country’, appeared in the 15th century, and is probably a direct derivative of the English verb. => alloy, ligament
ally (v.)
late 13c., "to join in marriage," from Old French alier "combine, unite," from a differentiated stem of aliier (from Latin alligare "bind to;" see alloy). Meaning "to form an alliance, join, associate" is late 14c. Related: allied; allying.
ally (n.)
late 14c., "relative, kinsman," from ally (v.); mid-15c. in the sense of "one united with another by treaty or league."
雙語例句
1. The United States is a close ally of South Korea.
美國是韓國的親密盟友。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
他是首相的親密支持者。
來自柯林斯例句
3. a close ally and friend of the prime minister
首相的一個親密盟友和伙伴
來自《權威詞典》
4. In that war England was not an ally; she was neutral.