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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



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Search results for 'help':

help verb (helped, helping) 1 to contribute towards the success of something; to assist or aid. 2 to give the means to do something. 3 to relieve a difficult situation or burden; to improve or lighten (a predicament). 4 to provide or supply with a portion; to deal out. 5 to remedy; to mitigate or alleviate. 6 to refrain from something • I couldn't help laughing. 7 to prevent or control • I can't help the bad weather. 8 intrans to give assistance. 9 intrans to contribute. noun 1 an act of helping. 2 means or strength given to another for a particular purpose. 3 someone who is employed to help, especially a domestic help. 4 a remedy or relief. adj giving help, aid or support. helpable adj. helper noun someone who helps; an assistant. cannot help oneself is not able to refrain from or resist doing something. more than one can help more than is necessary. so help me or so help me God a form of solemn oath; on my word.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon helpan.

help someone off with something to assist them in taking it off or disposing of it.

help someone on with something to help them to put it on.

help out or help someone out to offer help, usually for a short time, and especially by sharing a burden or the cost of something.

help oneself to something 1 to take (food, etc) for oneself without being served. 2 to take it without authority or permission.

help someone to something to serve them with it • help him to potatoes.

help

When help is followed by another verb, the 'to' is often omitted, because 'help' is a semi-modal verb like 'may' and 'dare' • Will you help me look for my glasses? • Your book helped me put my life back together.