Word Study
assist
CIDE DICTIONARY
assist, v. t. [L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.].
To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor. [1913 Webster]
"Assist me, knight. I am undone!" [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help.
assist, v. i.
- To lend aid; to help. [1913 Webster]"With God not parted from him, as was feared,
But favoring and assisting to the end." [1913 Webster] - To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting. Gibbon. Prescott. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
assist, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by in + verbal noun) help (a person, process, etc.) (assisted them in running the playgroup).
2 intr. (often foll. by in, at) assist or be present (assisted in the ceremony).
--n. US 1 help; an act of helping.
2 Baseball etc. a player's action of helping to put out an opponent, score a goal, etc.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by in + verbal noun) help (a person, process, etc.) (assisted them in running the playgroup).
2 intr. (often foll. by in, at) assist or be present (assisted in the ceremony).
--n. US 1 help; an act of helping.
2 Baseball etc. a player's action of helping to put out an opponent, score a goal, etc.
Derivative
assistance n. assister n.
Etymology
ME f. F assister f. L assistere take one's stand by (as AD-, sistere take one's stand)
THESAURUS
assist
abet, accompany, act for, advance, aid, assistance, attend, avail, bail out, be instrumental, bear a hand, befriend, benefit, boost, comfort, concur, cooperate, do for, do good, doctor, ease, escort, facilitate, favor, finance, forward, fund, further, give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give help, go between, hand, help, help out, helping hand, leg, leg up, lend a hand, lend one aid, lift, mediate, minister to, pay the bills, pension, pension off, proffer aid, promote, protect, rally, reclaim, redeem, relief, relieve, remedy, render assistance, rescue, restore, resuscitate, revive, save, second, serve, set up, stead, subserve, subsidize, succor, support, take in tow, work forROGET THESAURUS
assist
Aid
VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.For further exploring for "assist" in Webster Dictionary Online