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Glite Dictionary
symmachy

symmachy

9.9
A group of states or cities that join their armies to fight together
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪməki/
  • Archaic
: símaco
  • The ancient city-states formed a symmachy to defend against common threats.

Examples

  • The two nations formed a symmachy to combat external threats.

  • Historians often debate the effectiveness of the Peloponnesian symmachy in balancing power within Greece.

  • A symmachy can sometimes dissolve when the interests of the allies no longer align.

  • Many historians study the symmachies that shaped ancient warfare.

  • The ancient city-states formed a symmachy to defend against common threats.

  • A symmachy can sometimes dissolve when the interests of the allies no longer align.

  • Historians often debate the effectiveness of the Peloponnesian symmachy in balancing power within Greece.

Synonyms

alliance
vssymmachy
567 4.0

A formal agreement between countries or groups to work together

is specifically about military joint action rather than general cooperation
allies
vssymmachy
10 3.0

Countries or groups that join together to fight a common enemy

is more formal, focusing on planned joint military action among states
alignment
vssymmachy
9 4.6

A group of countries that agree to work together for political or military reasons

is focused on direct military cooperation rather than political coordination
alinement
vssymmachy
1 9.5

A group of countries that join by agreement to act together

is limited to military joint action rather than any general pact

How United

symmachy
  • Archaic
9.9
alliance
567 4.0
confederation
32 6.0
pact
  • Formal
130 3.4
agreement
  • Formal
∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

symmachy singular
symmachies plural

Morphology

symmachy = machy (opaque) = sym + machy

Built from Greek combining elements (sym- + -machy) that are not productive or familiar to average learners, so the sense 'alliance' is not derivable from the visible parts.

Etymology

Symmachy comes from Greek parts sym- meaning 'together' and -machy meaning 'battle'. So a symmachy is literally 'battling together', which helps you remember it means an alliance for joint military action.