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Partisan vs Ally - What's the difference?

partisan | ally | Related terms |

In obsolete terms the difference between partisan and ally

is that partisan is a soldier armed with such a weapon while ally is a relative; a kinsman.

As nouns the difference between partisan and ally

is that partisan is an adherent to a party or faction while ally is one united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate.

As an adjective partisan

is serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops: as, a partisan officer or corps.

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.

partisan

English

(wikipedia partisan)

Alternative forms

* partizan

Etymology 1

From (etyl) partisan, from (etyl) . English from the mid-16th century. The sense of "guerilla fighter" is from c. 1690. The adjective in the military sense dates from the early 18th century, in the political sense since 1842.

Noun

(en noun)
  • An adherent to a party or faction.
  • * 1924 : ARISTOTLE. Metaphysics . Translated by W. D. Ross. Nashotah, Wisconsin, USA: The Classical Library, 2001. Available at: . Book 1, Part 5.
    • while Xenophanes, the first of these partisans of the One (for Parmenides is said to have been his pupil), gave no clear statement,
  • A fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
  • A member of a band of detached light, irregular troops acting behind occupying enemy lines in the ways of harassment or sabotage; a guerrilla fighter
  • The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
    • Related terms
    * part * party

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops: as, a partisan officer or corps.
  • Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
  • Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause: partisan politics.
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 19 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Ukraine , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England will regard it as a measure of justice for Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup - but it was also an illustration of how they rode their luck for long periods in front of a predictably partisan home crowd.}}

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) partizaine, (partisanne) et al., from (etyl) partigiana, related to Etymology 1, above (apparently because it was seen as a typical weapon of such forces).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (historical) A spear with a triangular, double-edged blade.
  • (obsolete) A soldier armed with such a weapon.
    • See also
    * halberd

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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