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Ally vs Backer - What's the difference?

ally | backer | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between ally and backer

is that ally is one united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate while backer is one who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.

As a verb ally

is to unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy.

As a proper noun Ally

is a diminutive of the female given names Alison, Alice and Alexandra.

As an adjective backer is

comparative of back.

ally

English

(Webster 1913)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) alien, (etyl) alier (Modern French allier), from (etyl) . Compare alligate, allay, alloy and ligament.

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy
  • * (rfdate) :
    • O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied .
  • To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied .
  • * (rfdate) :
    • The virtue nearest to our vice allied .
    Usage notes
    * Generally used in the passive form or reflexively. * Often followed by to'' or ''with .
    Synonyms
    * make common cause

    Noun

    (allies)
  • One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • the English soldiers and their French allies
  • Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
  • * (rfdate) Buckle:
    • Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.
  • Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.
  • (taxonomy) A closely related species, usually within the same family.
    • Gruiformes — cranes and allies
  • (obsolete) A relative; a kinsman.
    • (Shakespeare)
    Related terms
    * alliance

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of alabaster.

    Noun

    (allies)
  • (a glass marble or taw)

    • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms

    backer

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who, or that which, s; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.

    • Adjective

    (head)
  • (phonetics) (back)
    • Martin J. Ball and Nicole Müller (2005), Phonetics for communication disorders , p. 174:
  • :: /e?/ This diphthong is a glide from mid front tongue position toward a higher, backer position similar to that of /?/.
    • English agent nouns