help

n.

1. Assistance

   advice, cooperation, guidance; see aid 1.

2. Employees

   aides, representatives, hired help; see assistant, staff 2.

3. Physical relief

   maintenance, sustenance, nourishment; see relief 4, remedy 2.

help

v.

1. To aid

   aid, assist, abet, succor, uphold, advise, encourage, stand by, cooperate, intercede for, patronize, befriend, accommodate, work for, back up, maintain, sustain, prop, benefit, bolster, lend a hand, do a service, see through, do one's part, cheer, give a hand, be of use, come to the aid of, bail out, be of some help, help along, do a favor, promote, endorse, sanction, back, advocate, abet, stimulate, uphold, second, further, work for, stick up for*, take under one's wing*, go to bat for*, side with*, give a lift*, boost*, take in tow*, pitch in*, set to*; see also support 2.

   Antonyms oppose*, rival*, combat. *

2. To assist in recovery

   attend, nourish, doctor*; see heal 1, nurse, revive 2, treat 3.

3. To serve at table

   wait on, accommodate, tend to; see serve 4.

4. To improve

   better, correct, ease; see improve 1.

help is the simplest and strongest of these words meaning to supply another with whatever is necessary to accomplish his or her ends or relieve his or her wants; aid and assist are somewhat more formal and weaker, assist esp. implying a subordinate role in the helper and less need for help she assisted him in his experiments; succor suggests timely help to one in distress to succor a besieged city

cannot help but

cannot help oneself

so help me God