aide-de-camp
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aide-de-camp
1660–70; < French: literally, camp helper; see aid, de, camp 1
Explanation
An aide-de-camp is a military officer who assists another officer with more seniority. An aide-de-camp is a military assistant. Many English words come from the military, and many others come from French. This word comes from both, as it's a French term for a military assistant. Just like assistants in other fields, the aide-de-camp will provide the senior officer with whatever is needed. This term also gets a fair amount of work as a general term for an assistant to a powerful person in any organization. Any supervisor or leader may have an aide-de-camp who helps them out.
Vocabulary lists containing aide-de-camp
All the Light We Cannot See
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French Terms Used in English
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Anna Karenina
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s where he spotted Manafort and anointed him aide de camp.
From Slate • Apr. 28, 2016
Hamilton was on the prowl for a bride while serving as Washington’s aide de camp, so Washington’s wife Martha named a tomcat after him.
From Washington Times • Feb. 18, 2015
Weiner held a press conference Tuesday, in which he appeared shoulder to shoulder with his wife, Huma Abedin, the longtime aide de camp of Hillary Clinton.
From Washington Post • Jul. 24, 2013
"As an example, general officers in command often have an aide de camp."
From Reuters • Dec. 7, 2012
His duty as aide de camp over, Ronald rejoined his regiment.
From Bonnie Prince Charlie : a Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
