In the style or manner of someone or something; also refers to anatomical wing-like structures. Often used to indicate similarity or imitation.
From Latin ala meaning 'wing,' which came to mean 'in the style of' through the metaphor of following in someone's flight path. The prepositional use became popular in English during the 20th century, particularly in culinary and artistic contexts.
This tiny word carries the beautiful metaphor of flight - when we do something 'ala' someone else, we're metaphorically flying in their wake or following their wing pattern. It's a much more elegant way of saying 'like' or 'in the style of' and connects imitation to the graceful act of flight formation.
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