Ally Means Bound Together
An ally is a partner in a joint cause. The Latin root means to bind, and it also gives alloy and rally.
An ally is a state or person cooperating with another for a common purpose. Latin *alligare* meant to bind to, from *ligare*, to tie — so allies are literally bound together. The same *ligare* gives *ligament*, which binds bones, *oblige*, which binds you to a duty, and *religion*, on one traditional explanation, as that which binds people together. *Alloy* is the same word: metals bound into one, though the modern spelling took a different path.
- A cooperating partner. *A close ally.*
- To join with. *Allied with.*
- Alliance — the arrangement. *An alliance.*
- Ligament — from the same root. *A ligament.*
- Latin — *ligare*, to bind. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | ally | An ally. |
| Plural | allies | Allies. |
| Verb | ally | Ally with. |
| Noun | alliance | An alliance. |
| Latin | ligare | To bind. |
- France was a close ally.Politics.
- They allied against the threat.Verb.
- Ligare means to bind.Etymology.
The ligare family
- Ally — bound to another
- Alloy — metals bound into one
- Ligament — the tissue binding bones
- Oblige — bound to a duty
- Liable — bound to a responsibility
Old French *alier*, from Latin *alligare*, to bind to, from *ad-* plus *ligare*, to bind.
Are ally and alloy the same word?
Essentially yes. Both come from Latin alligare, to bind together, one applied to people and one to metals.
Is ligament related?
Yes. A ligament is the tissue that binds bones together, from the same ligare.