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Ally vs Crony - What's the difference?

ally | crony |

As a proper noun ally

is a diminutive of the female given names alison, alice and alexandra.

As a noun crony is

(informal) close friend.

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)

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of alabaster.

    Noun

    (allies)
  • (a glass marble or taw)
  • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms

    crony

    English

    Noun

    (cronies)
  • (informal) Close friend.
  • * Washington Irving
  • He soon found his former cronies , though all rather the worse for the wear and tear of time.
  • (informal) Trusted companion or partner in a criminal organization.
  • (obsolete) An old woman; a crone.
  • * Burton
  • Marry not an old crony .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * cronyism

    See also

    * croony

    References

    Anagrams

    * *