ally

Where does the word "ally" come from? It comes from Latin ligare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Ally’s story begins in Latin: ligare meant “to bind.” To bind, combined with ad- (to). Within Latin, it grew into alligare by ancient. To bind to, to connect, from ad- and ligare. From there it passed into Old French as alier by medieval. Carried into French for joining with another for mutual benefit. It reached English by 1300s as ally. Settled as the English word for a person or group joined with another for mutual benefit. Today, ally means a person, group, or state joined with another for a common purpose.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ligare "to bind", to bind, combined with ad- (to).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient alligare "to bind to, to connect", to bind to, to connect, from ad- and ligare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval alier "to join with another for mutual benefit", carried into French for joining with another for mutual benefit.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s ally "a person or group joined with another for mutual benefit", settled as the English word for a person or group joined with another for mutual benefit.