# aid

> English word · Noun · IPA /eɪd/ · frequency rank #1,808

## Definitions
1. Help; assistance; succor, relief.
2. A helper; an assistant.
3. Something which helps; a material source of help.
4. An historical subsidy granted to the crown by Parliament for an extraordinary purpose, such as a war effort.
5. An exchequer loan.
6. A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his feudal lord on special occasions.
7. Alternative form of aide (“an aide-de-camp”).
8. The rider's use of hands, legs, voice, etc. to control the horse.

## Etymology
From Middle English aide, eide, ayde, from Old French eide, aide, from aidier, from Latin adiūtō, adiūtāre (“to assist, help”). Cognates include Spanish ayuda, Portuguese ajuda and Italian aiuto.

## Easily confused with
- **as** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-as)
- **at** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-at)
- **an** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-an)
- **AM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-am)
- **AL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-al)
- **AP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ap)
- **aw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-aw)
- **AR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ar)
- **AU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-au)
- **AK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ak)
- **AZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-az)
- **av** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-av)
- **ay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ay)
- **ao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ao)
- **ax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-ax)
- **and** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-and)
- **are** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-are)
- **all** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-all)
- **any** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-any)
- **air** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-air)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/aid