- to make things easier or better for (a person); aid; assist; specif.,
- to give (one in need or trouble) something necessary, as relief, succor, money, etc.: to help the poor
- to do part of the work of; ease or share the labor of: to help someone lift a load
- to aid in getting (up, down, in, etc. or to, into, out of, etc.): help her into the house
- to make it easier for (something) to exist, happen, develop, improve, etc.; specif.,
- to make more effective, larger, more intense, etc.; aid the growth of; promote: a tax to help the schools
- to cause improvement in; remedy; alleviate; relieve: a medicine that helps a cold
- to keep from; avoid: he can't help coughing
- to stop, prevent, change, etc.: a misfortune that can't be helped
- to serve or wait on (a customer, client, guest, etc.)
Origin of help
Middle English helpen from Old English helpan, akin to German helfen from Indo-European base an unverified form ?elb-, an unverified form ?elp-, to help from source early Lithuanian s?lbinos, to aid- to give assistance; be cooperative, useful, or beneficial
- to act as a waiter, clerk, servant, etc.
- the act of helping or a thing that helps; aid; assistance
- relief; cure; remedy
- a helper; esp., a hired helper, as a domestic servant, farmhand, etc.
- hired helpers; employees
Origin of help
ME < OE < base of the v.; in U.S., sense of “servant,” prob. a euphemism to avoid stigma of “serve” used to summon assistance, esp. urgently
help Idioms
cannot help but
cannot fail to; be compelled or obliged to
cannot help oneself
to be the victim of circumstances, a habit, etc.
help oneself (to)
- to serve or provide oneself with (food, etc.)
- Informal to take without asking or being given; steal or appropriate (something)
help out
to help in getting or doing something; help
so help me (God)
a phrase used to assert that one is making a solemn vow, sincere declaration, etc.
