Synonyms for alley


Grammar : Noun
Spell : al-ee
Phonetic Transcription : ˈæl i


Définition of alley

Origin :
  • mid-14c., "passage in a house; open passage between buildings; walkway in a garden," from Old French alee (13c., Modern French allée) "a path, passage, way, corridor," also "a going," from fem. of ale, past participle of aler "to go," which ultimately may be a contraction of Latin ambulare "to walk," or from Gallo-Romance allari, a back-formation from Latin allatus "having been brought to" [Barnhart]. Cf. sense evolution of gate. Applied by c.1500 to "long narrow enclosure for playing at bowls, skittles, etc." Used in place names from c.1500.
  • The word is applied in American English to what in London is called a mews, and also is used there especially of a back-lane parallel to a main street (1729). To be up someone's alley "in someone's neighborhood" (literally or figuratively) is from 1931; alley-cat attested by 1890.
  • noun narrow passage
Example sentences :
  • They have moved from the alley; the surroundings were not such as they liked.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Through the trees the mouth of the alley could be seen, opening out on a moonlit glade.
  • Extract from : « White Fang » by Jack London
  • Then but a few moments to reach Gerty's alley, and Gerty's window.
  • Extract from : « St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. V, August, 1878, No 10. » by Various
  • Up the alley went the car, police keeping the crowd from following.
  • Extract from : « Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout » by Victor Appleton
  • He walked on ahead of them, turned down an alley, and disappeared.
  • Extract from : « Be It Ever Thus » by Robert Moore Williams
  • Reassured at the sight of the youth, but angry, the instructor moved into the alley.
  • Extract from : « Be It Ever Thus » by Robert Moore Williams
  • You saw nothing in that alley, yet you asked me to come back and look.
  • Extract from : « Be It Ever Thus » by Robert Moore Williams
  • They walked in silence down the alley which led to the ball-room.
  • Extract from : « The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 » by Various
  • The car in mention was doing sixty as it came out of the alley ahead of us.
  • Extract from : « Arm of the Law » by Harry Harrison
  • Next he imagined he was in the alley, in the little staircase he had so frequently ascended.
  • Extract from : « Therese Raquin » by Emile Zola

Words or expressions associated with your search


Most wanted synonyms

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019