AID

¹

[ eyd ]

noun

, U.S. Government.

1. the division of the United States International Development Cooperation Agency that coordinates the various foreign aid programs with U.S. foreign policy: established in 1961.

AID

²

abbreviation for

1. American Institute of Decorators.
2. American Institute of Interior Designers.
3. British. artificial insemination donor. Also A.I.D.

aid

³

[ eyd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to provide support for or relief to; help:

   to aid the victims of the fire.

2. to promote the progress or accomplishment of; facilitate.

   Synonyms: advance, foster, back, abet

   Antonyms: frustrate, hinder

verb (used without object)

1. to give help or assistance.

noun

1. help or support; assistance.

   Synonyms: grant, subsidy, relief, succor

2. a person or thing that aids or furnishes assistance; helper; auxiliary.
3. aids, Manège.
   1. Also called natural aids. the means by which a rider communicates with and controls a horse, as the hands, legs, voice, and shifts in weight.
   2. Also called artificial aids. the devices used by a rider to increase control of a horse, as spurs, whip, and martingale.
4. aide-de-camp.
5. foreign aid.
6. a payment made by feudal vassals to their lord on special occasions.
7. English History. (after 1066) any of several revenues received by a king in the Middle Ages from his vassals and other subjects, limited by the Magna Charta to specified occasions.

aid

¹

/ eɪd /

verb

1. to give support to (someone to do something); help or assist
2. tr to assist financially

noun

1. assistance; help; support
2. a person, device, etc, that helps or assists

   a teaching aid

3. Alsoartificial aid mountaineering any of various devices such as piton or nut when used as a direct help in the ascent
4. (in medieval Europe; in England after 1066) a feudal payment made to the king or any lord by his vassals, usually on certain occasions such as the marriage of a daughter or the knighting of an eldest son
5. in aid of informal.
   in support of; for the purpose of

AID

²

abbreviation for

1. acute infectious disease
2. artificial insemination (by) donor: former name for Donor Insemination (DI)

Aid

³

combining form

1. denoting a charitable organization or function that raises money for a cause

   Band Aid

   Ferryaid

Confusables Note

Although the nouns aid and aide both have among their meanings “an assisting person,” the spelling aide is increasingly used for the sense “helper, assistant”: One of the senator's aides is calling. Aide in military use is short for aide-de-camp. It is also the spelling in nurse's aide.

Derived Forms

• ˈaider, noun

Other Words From

• aid·er noun
• aid·ful adjective
• aid·less adjective
• un·aid·ed adjective
• un·aid·ed·ly adverb
• un·aid·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of AID¹

A(gency for) I(nternational) D(evelopment)

Origin of AID²

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English noun aide, eide, from Anglo-French, Old French aide, derivative of verb aid(i)er, from Latin adjūtāre “to help”; adjuvant ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of AID¹

C15: via Old French aidier from Latin adjūtāre to help, from juvāre to help

Synonym Study

See help.

Example Sentences

So working with the militants in order to deliver aid “becomes a requirement,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

Think of it as a frequent buyer program for personal karma, or a spiritual band-aid.

From The Daily Beast

In the Senate, the Democrats passed the budget 56-40 with the generous aid of 24 Republicans.

From The Daily Beast

After all, smaller developing nations like Cameroon often depend on trade with and aid from the West.

From The Daily Beast

Followers had traveled many miles to mourn the loss, and aid in the ritual washing, dressing, and honoring of the body.

From The Daily Beast

Groping to the chimney-place with the aid of his matches, Mr. Collingwood found the candle and lit it.

From Project Gutenberg

England gladly seized the opportunity of injuring her enemy and sent aid to the people of Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

But once Austria was disposed of, Prussia and Russia met their punishment for having given her secret or open aid.

From Project Gutenberg

This province, having taken depositions in regard to it, with the aid of the said letter, adjudged Japon accordingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore they charge the governor with concealing it; and all that is without the aid of authority to make investigation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abet
• alleviate
• assist
• encourage
• promote
• subsidize