Forms: 5 eyde, 56 ayde, 67 ayd, aide, 7 aid. [a. OFr. aide-r, -ier (Pr. ajuda-r):L. adjūtā-re, freq. of adjuvā-re to give help to; f. ad to + juvā-re to help. (In the Fr. aidier, ai- = L. adju-, d disappearing as usual, and u as following secondary accent in a:djutā·re; i was semi-vowel (y) = L. j.)]
1. trans. To give help, support or assistance to; to help, assist, succor.
[Aiding quoted from Chaucer Persones T. by Richardson is not genuine.]
1483. Caxton, Cato, a iij b. To ayde helpe and Susteyne them in theyr necessytees.
1488. W. Paston, in Lett., 904, III. 344. My Lord Woddevyle and other schulde have gone over in to Breten to have eyded the Duke of Breten.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 7. Ye choise spirits Appeare, and ayde me in this enterprize!
1611. Bible, 1 Macc. viii. 26. Neither shal they aide them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships.
1795. Sewel, trans. Hist. Quakers, I. IV. 239. I would have aided him out of the country but he would not go.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 286. The invasion was aided and abetted by Richards subjects.
1878. G. Macdonald, Ann. Quiet Neighb., xxviii. 478. Every appliance that could alleviate suffering or aid recovery was at hand.
2. absol. and with inf.
1601. Shaks., Alls Well, IV. iv. 12. Where, heaven ayding Weel be before our welcome. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., V. ii. 77. All the Instruments which ayded to expose the Child.
1806. Coleridge, Christabel, I. 130. But this she knows That saints will aid if men will call.