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

During his campaign, Trump flirted with those boundaries, repeatedly musing about using the military to go after domestic political opponents, or to aid in mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

Ukrainians fear Trump will cut off military aid for the war against Russia, even as Ukraine’s leader aims to win him over with congratulations and praise.

From Los Angeles Times

It accuses Israeli authorities of blocking “all but a small fraction of the necessary humanitarian aid, water, electricity, and fuel from reaching civilians in need”, as well as carrying out attacks that have damaged and destroyed vital resources like hospitals and bakeries.

From BBC

Furthermore, while third place might do little to aid their World Cup ambitions, it would put Scotland into a Nations League relegation play-off in the spring and give them a chance of preserving League A status.

From BBC

The more hands-off approach favored by Trump could aid such medical device developers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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