aide

[eyd]

noun

1. an assistant or helper, especially a paid employee.

   Years ago, my mom was a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten classroom.

2. nurse's aide.

   During the war she worked as an aide in a field hospital, changing bedpans and cleaning floors.

3. aide-de-camp.

4. an assistant or advisor to a public figure, especially one who works for a person in public office.

   He is a journalist and former White House aide.

5. home health aide.

   The agency just called to say my mom's aide didn't show up this morning.

aide

/ eɪd /

noun

1. an assistant

2. social welfare an unqualified assistant to a professional welfare worker

3. short for aide-de-camp

Confusables Note

See aid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aide¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1770–80; from French: literally, “helper”; aid

Example Sentences

At the request of Nixon aide John Ehrlichman, Gray told field offices to help Nixon campaign surrogates by providing local crime information.

From Salon

Novak, the teacher’s aide who lost her home and rental properties, said she had relocated to Chico after the fire but “I was back up here in two weeks. I couldn’t live in Chico.”

From Los Angeles Times

An aide who worked for a leading member of Germany's far-right AfD party has been given a jail term of four years and nine months for spying for China.

From BBC

He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Byron White and worked as an aide to then-Sen.

From Los Angeles Times

But, as one senior aide said, the question will be whether the situation on the ground in Gaza has changed come election time.

From BBC

Related Words

• assistant 
• deputy 
• supporter