Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Alliance"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Alliance
a treaty between nations, or between individuals, for their
mutual advantage.
Abraham formed an alliance with some of the Canaanitish
princes (Gen. 14:13), also with Abimelech (21:22-32). Joshua and
the elders of Israel entered into an alliance with the
Gibeonites (Josh. 9:3-27). When the Israelites entered Palestine
they were forbidden to enter into alliances with the inhabitants
of the country (Lev. 18:3, 4; 20:22, 23).
Solomon formed a league with Hiram (1 Kings 5:12). This
"brotherly covenant" is referred to 250 years afterwards (Amos
1:9). He also appears to have entered into an alliance with
Pharaoh (1 Kings 10:28, 29).
In the subsequent history of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel
various alliances were formed between them and also with
neighbouring nations at different times.
From patriarchal times a covenant of alliance was sealed by
the blood of some sacrificial victim. The animal sacrificed was
cut in two (except birds), and between these two parts the
persons contracting the alliance passed (Gen. 15:10). There are
frequent allusions to this practice (Jer. 34:18). Such alliances
were called "covenants of salt" (Num. 18:19; 2 Chr. 13:5), salt
being the symbol of perpetuity. A pillar was set up as a
memorial of the alliance between Laban and Jacob (Gen. 31:52).
The Jews throughout their whole history attached great
importance to fidelity to their engagements. Divine wrath fell
upon the violators of them (Josh. 9:18; 2 Sam. 21:1, 2; Ezek.
17:16).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Alliance \Al*li"ance\, v. t.
To connect by alliance; to ally. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Alliance \Al*li"ance\, n. [OE. aliaunce, OF. aliance, F.
alliance, fr. OF. alier, F. allier. See {Ally}, and cf. LL.
alligantia.]
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. --Udall.
Syn: Connection; affinity; union; confederacy; confederation;
league; coalition.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
alliance
n 1: the state of being allied or confederated [syn: {confederation}]
2: a connection based on kinship or marriage or common
interest: "the shifting alliances within a large family";
"their friendship constitutes a powerful bond between
them" [syn: {bond}]
3: an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact
or treaty [syn: {coalition}, {alignment}, {alinement}]
[ant: {nonalignment}]
4: a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance
between nations or other groups to achieve a particular
aim
5: the act of forming an alliance or confederation [syn: {confederation}]
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