| alliance | 1. The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc, especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league; as, matrimonial alliances; an alliance between church and state; an alliance between France and England. 2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity. "The alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel." (C. J. Smith) "The alliance . . . Between logic and metaphysics." (Mansel) 3. The persons or parties allied. Synonym: Connection, affinity, union, confederacy, confederation, league, coalition. Origin: OE. Aliaunce, OF. Aliance, F. Alliance, fr. OF. Alier, F. Allier. See Ally, and cf. LL. Alligantia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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