Alliance

1. The persons or parties allied.
2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.
3. To connect by alliance; to ally.
4. 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.