Aid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aided; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiding.]
Etymology: [F. aider, OF. aidier, fr. L. adjutare to help, freq. of adjuvare to help; ad + juvare to help. Cf. Adjutant.]
To support, either by furnishing strength or means in coöperation to effect a purpose, or to prevent or to remove evil; to help; to assist. You speedy helpers . . . Appear and aid me in this enterprise. Shak.
Syn. -- To help; assist; support; sustain; succor; relieve; befriend; coöperate; promote. See Help.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Aid, n.
1. Help; succor; assistance; relief. An unconstitutional mode of obtaining aid. Hallam.
2. The person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; a helper; an assistant. It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself. Tobit viii. 6.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
A subsidy granted to the king by Parliament; also, an exchequer loan.
4. (Feudal Law)
A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his lord on special occasions. Blackstone.
5. An aid-de-camp, so called by abbreviation; as, a general's aid. Aid prayer (Law), a proceeding by which a defendant beseeches and claims assistance from some one who has a further or more permanent interest in the matter in suit. -- To pray in aid, to beseech and claim such assistance.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for aid; he lists it under abet, adherent, auxiliary, help, promote, subsidy.
Where he writes about it:
A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. — from abet
Help expresses greater dependence and deeper need than aid. — from help
In extremity we say "God help me!" rather than "God aid me!" In time of danger we cry "help! help!" rather than "aid! aid!" To aid is to second another's own exertions. — from help
Help includes aid, but aid may fall short of the meaning of help. — from help
In law to aid or abet makes one a principal. (Compare synonyms for accessory.) To cooperate is to aid as an equal; to assist implies a subordinate and secondary relation. — from help
Encourage refers to mental aid, as uphold now usually does; succor and support, oftenest to material assistance. — from help
Governmental aid to a commercial or industrial enterprise other than a transportation company is more frequently called a bounty than a subsidy; as, the sugar bounty. — from subsidy