Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - alliance

n. 1 a union or agreement to cooperate, esp. of States by treaty or families by marriage. b the parties involved. 2 (Alliance) a political party formed by the allying of separate parties. 3 a relationship resulting from an affinity in nature or qualities etc. (the old alliance between logic and metaphysics). 4 Bot. a group of allied families. Etymology: ME f. OF aliance (as ALLY(1))