in gardening, a straight parallel walk, bounded on both sides with trees, shrubs, &c., and usually covered with gravel or turf. Covered Alley, that over which the branches of trees meeting, form a shade.

Alley of compartment, that which divides the squares of a parterre. See Parterre.

Alley, among builders, denotes a narrow passage leading from one place to another.

Alley, in perspective, that which, in order to have a greater appearance of length, is made wider at the entrance than at the termination.

Alliance, in the civil and canon law, the relation contracted between two persons or two families by marriage.

Alliance is also used for a treaty entered into by sovereign princes and states, for their mutual safety and defence.

In this sense, alliances may be distinguished into such as are offensive, whereby the contracting parties oblige themselves jointly to attack some other power; and into defensive ones, whereby they bind themselves to stand by and defend each other, in case they are attacked by others.

Alliance, in a figurative sense, is applied to any kind of union or connection: thus we say, there is an alliance between the church and state.

Alligati, in Roman antiquity, the basest kind of slaves, who were usually kept fettered. See Slave.

Allier, a river of France, which, arising in Languedoc, waters part of Auvergne and Bourbonnois, and falls into the Loire, a little below Nevers.