alliance
verbEtymology From Middle English alliaunce, from Old French aliance (French alliance). Equivalent to ally + -ance. Compare with Doric Greek ἁλία (halía, “assembly”). See also al-.
1
Obsolete To connect or unite by alliance; to ally.
alliance
nounUS, UK /əˈlaɪ.əns/
Etymology From Middle English alliaunce, from Old French aliance (French alliance). Equivalent to ally + -ance. Compare with Doric Greek ἁλία (halía, “assembly”). See also al-.
7 senses
1
The state of being allied.
2
The act of allying or uniting.
3
A union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league.
- matrimonial alliances
- an alliance between church and state, or welded by two countries
5
Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.
- And as for kindred , there is no Alliance neerer vnto any one, than their Countrey , that is to be vnto vs another God, and our prime and deareſt Parent.1624, William Udall, The Historie of the Life and Death of Mary Stuart Queene of Scotland:
- the alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated:
1 more example
- the alliance […] between logic and metaphysics1860, Henry Longueville Mansel, Prolegomena Logica: An Inquiry Into the Psychological Character of Logical Processes:
6
With the definite article The persons or parties allied.
- Synonyms
- connection, affinity, union, allyship, coalition, league, confederation, team, axis
- Derived terms
- airline alliance, alliancer, antialliance, Blue-Green alliance, counteralliance, gay-straight alliance, Grand Alliance, misalliance, offensive and defensive alliance, quasi-alliance, realliance, red-green alliance, red-green-brown alliance, suballiance, unholy alliance
- Related terms
- ally