Alined

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To place things into a straight line or correct position relative to one another ; to side with a person, group or cause for shared goals
2. To bring parts into a precise, straight arrangement ; to join or support a faction, party or movement
3. To set objects in a proper line or relative position ; to associate oneself with a particular side or cause

Etymology: "Alined" is an alternative spelling of "aligned," the past participle of the verb "align." The verb came into English from French: its ancestor is the Old French verb "aligner," meaning to place in a line, which was built from "a-" (to) and "ligne," the line that also gave English "line." So the word's core idea is simply putting things into a row or straight line. The spelling with one "l" is the older-looking form, reflecting how the word was first written in English, while "aligned" with a double "l" follows the French and Latin pattern of "ligne" and "linea." Both forms are accepted today, though "aligned" is far more common in modern print. Spelling variants of this kind were common in English as its vocabulary was absorbed from French and Latin.

Synonyms: align, adjust, straighten, line up

Antonyms: misalign