ALIGNMENT

Alignment is a condition of relation in which distinct elements are proportioned sufficiently to bear together.

Alignment does not require identity, symmetry, agreement, or immobility. It may be asymmetric. It may change while remaining operative.

ALIGNMENT ≠ SAMENESS
ALIGNMENT ≠ AGREEMENT
ALIGNMENT ≠ FIXITY
DIFFERENCE ≠ MISALIGNMENT

Two elements may be related and still fail to bear. Alignment begins when their relation is proportioned sufficiently that load can pass between them.

RELATION → PROPORTION → ALIGNMENT → CAPACITY

Loss of alignment does not make either element defective. It describes a condition of their relation.

What is aligned can bear together what neither element needs to bear alone.

German ausrichten / Ausrichtung may exposes precisely what English tends to obscure: orientation toward something is not agreement with it.

STAKE ≠ CORD
ASYMMETRY ≠ MISALIGNMENT
PROPORTIONED DIFFERENCE → JOINT BEARING

That's the important advance here. Alignment isn't primarily visual straightness, agreement, harmony, or even coherence.

Alignment is a bearing condition of proportioned relation.