1. (n.) 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. (n.) Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.

3. (n.) The persons or parties allied.

4. (v. t.) To connect by alliance; to ally.

Anschluss Bund NATO Rochdale cooperative SEATO a world-without-end bargain accompaniment accord accordance addition adjunct affairs affiliation affinity agglomeration aggregation agnation agreement alignment alikeness amalgamation analogy ancestry anschluss aping approach approximation assemblage assimilation association axis band bed blend blending bloc blood blood relationship body bond bond of matrimony bridebed brotherhood brothership cabal cahoots capitulation cartel centralization closeness club co-working coaction coadunation coalescence coalition cognation cohabitation coincidence collaboration colleagueship collectivity college collegialism collegiality collusion combination combine combined effort combo common ancestry common descent common market community comparability comparison composition comradeship concert concerted action concomitance concord concordance concordat concourse concurrence confederacy confederation confluence conformity confraternity congeries conglomeration conjugal bond conjugal knot conjugation conjunction connectedness connection consanguinity consilience consolidation conspiracy consumer cooperative contiguity contrariety convention cooperation cooperative cooperative society copartnership copartnery copying corps correspondence council cousinhood cousinship coverture credit union customs union dealings deduction disjunction economic community ecumenism embodiment enation encompassment enosis entente entente cordiale fatherhood federalization federation fellowship filiation fraternalism fraternity fraternization free trade area freemasonry fusion gang group grouping holy matrimony holy wedlock homology hookup husbandhood identity ill-assorted marriage imitation inclusion incorporation integration intercourse intermarriage international agreement interracial marriage intimacy junction junta kindred kinship league liaison likeness likening link linkage linking machine marriage marriage bed marriage sacrament match maternity matrilineage matriliny matrimonial union matrimony matrisib matrocliny meld melding merger mesalliance metaphor mimicking misalliance miscegenation mixed marriage mob motherhood mutual attraction mutual-defense treaty nearness nonaggression pact nuptial bond order package package deal pact paction parallelism parasitism parity partnership paternity patrilineage patriliny patrisib patrocliny political machine propinquity proximity rapport relatedness relation relations relationship resemblance ring sacrament of matrimony sameness saprophytism semblance sibship similarity simile similitude simulation simultaneity sisterhood sistership society sodality solidification sorority spousehood symbiosis sympathy synchronism syncretism syndication syneresis synergy synthesis tie tie-in tie-up ties of blood