aline: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal/Literary, Technical (obsolete spelling)
Quick answer
What does “aline” mean?
To arrange in a straight line or bring into alignment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To arrange in a straight line or bring into alignment; a less common variant of 'align'.
To bring something into a position of agreement or cooperation with something else; to adjust or adapt to a standard, policy, or principle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The form 'aline' is obsolete in both varieties. Modern British and American English exclusively use 'align'. Historically, 'aline' may have appeared slightly more in 18th-19th century British texts.
Connotations
If used today, 'aline' would be perceived as archaic, literary, or an affectation. It might be confused with the name 'Aline'.
Frequency
'Aline' is virtually extinct in contemporary usage. It appears with near-zero frequency in modern corpora for both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “aline” in a Sentence
to aline [object] with [goal/standard]to aline [oneself] with [person/group]Examples
Examples of “aline” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient text instructed the mason to aline the stones with the rising sun.
- He sought to aline his actions with his moral code.
American English
- The colonel ordered the troops to aline themselves along the fence.
- Efforts to aline state laws with federal statutes were ongoing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used; the modern 'align' is standard.
Academic
Not used; the modern 'align' is standard.
Everyday
Not used; would be considered a spelling error for 'align'.
Technical
Not used; the modern 'align' is standard.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aline”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aline”
- Using 'aline' in modern writing instead of 'align'.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈeɪ.laɪn/ (like the name) instead of /əˈlaɪn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Aline' is an obsolete spelling of the verb 'align'. It is not considered correct in modern standard English.
Always use 'align'. 'Aline' will be marked as a spelling error in most contexts.
A learner might encounter it in historical texts, poetry, or older dictionaries. It is sometimes listed as a variant in comprehensive dictionaries with an 'archaic' or 'obsolete' label.
No, it has exactly the same meaning. It is simply a different (and now disused) spelling.
To arrange in a straight line or bring into alignment.
Aline is usually formal/literary, technical (obsolete spelling) in register.
Aline: in British English it is pronounced /əˈlʌɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A line' you draw needs to be straight, but you 'align' things to make them straight. 'Aline' is the old way to spell it.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT/COOPERATION IS BEING IN A STRAIGHT LINE (shared with 'align').
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you encounter the spelling 'aline'?