Allees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Walkways or roads lined with evenly spaced trees, typically forming a scenic avenue ; ornamental tree-lined approaches found in gardens or estates ; straight paths bordered by rows of trees creating a formal design in landscaping
2. Straight, tree-flanked routes in parks or estates ; avenues bordered symmetrically by trees often used for visual effect in gardens ; planned passageways with trees arranged on both sides to guide the view
3. Landscaped passages characterized by rows of trees on either side enhancing symmetry ; decorative avenues within gardens or properties defined by parallel tree plantings ; formal walkways bordered by trees to create a visually pleasing thoroughfare

Etymology: "Allees" is simply the plural of "allee", a noun for a tree-lined garden path. That noun comes from French "allée", meaning "path" or "walk", the feminine past participle of "aller", "to go". A path is, in effect, a thing that has been gone along, which is why the French word carries the idea of movement in its shape. The English noun was borrowed directly from that French form, and it kept the sense of a walkway rather than a broad road. Its use is largely confined to garden and landscape writing, where the image of trees arching over a straight path is the whole point of the word.

Synonyms: avenues, boulevards, walkways, pathways, promenades