Definition of "rally"

Innumerable parts of matter chanced just then to rally together, and to form themselves into this new world.

1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: , published 1720

The Grecians rally, and their powers unite.

1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]

The USA were dominant but, to England’s immense credit, they repeatedly rallied, refusing to fold. Indeed they could conceivably have gone in level at the interval had Naeher not made an acrobatic, stretching, fingertip save to divert Walsh’s 25-yard thunderbolt as it whizzed unerringly on its apparently inexorable trajectory towards the top corner.

2019 July 2, Louise Taylor, “Alex Morgan heads USA past England into Women’s World Cup final”, in The Guardian‎

Norbourne was almost thankful for any excuse that enabled him to avoid seeing Lady Marchmont. In vain he sought to rally his spirits, and to conceal his depression; but the idea of Ethel mocked his efforts to forget.

1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], pages 40–41

Bitcoin has still plunged in value by almost two-thirds this year, it should be said. But it has also rallied by about 10% since the downwards lurch when FTX filed for bankruptcy in mid-November, which is extraordinary.

2022 December 14, Nils Pratley, “Bitcoin has rallied. What are crypto’s true believers still smoking?”, in The Guardian‎

But you must not rally him on the subject Sir Oliver—'tis a tender Point I assure you though He has been married only seven months.

1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.iii

Honeycomb […] rallies me after his way upon my country life.

1711 August 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “TUESDAY, July 31, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 132; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853

Strephon had long confeſs'd his am'rous Pain, / VVhich gay Corinna railly'd vvith Diſdain: […]

1713, [John] Gay, “Book I”, in The Fan. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1714, page 5

So the athletic Magnolia instantly impounded the little lieutenant, and began to rally him, in the sort of slang she delighted in, with plenty of merriment and malice upon his tendre for Miss Chattesworth, and made the gallant young gentleman blush and occasionally smile, and bow a great deal, and take some snuff.

1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Church-yard. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley, Brothers, […]