The arrangement of objects or elements in a straight line or proper relative position. The state of agreement or cooperation between people, groups, or systems.
From French 'aligner,' from 'à ligne' meaning 'to line.' The word entered English in the 18th century, initially describing military formations and later expanding to mechanical, abstract, and political arrangements.
In astronomy, 'planetary alignment' captures popular imagination despite being relatively common and having minimal gravitational effects on Earth. The word's journey from military formations to cosmic events shows how spatial metaphors become powerful tools for describing harmony and coordination.
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