Forms: 4–6 assystence, 6 assistence, 6–7 -aunce, 6– -ance. [a. F. assistance, f. assister: see ASSIST v. and -ANCE.]
† 1. The being or remaining near; presence, attendance. Obs. except as assumedly French.
a. 1520. Myrr. Our Ladye, 78. Ryghtful men are strengthed … by more nere assystence of aungels to them.
1528. More, Heresyes, I. Wks. 145/2. The perpetual … assistence of Christ with his church.
1644. Milton, Judgm. Bucer, Wks. 1738, I. 272. His sumptuous burial … solemnized with so great an assistance of all the University.
1883. Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Nov., 3/2. The ‘assistance’ of the Government at the ceremony.
2. collect. (rarely pl.) Persons present, bystanders, audience. Obs. exc. as recently re-adopted from Fr.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), I. xvi. 21 a/1. Whyche the holy angelles bare in to heuen in the presence of the assystences.
1596. Lodge, Marg. Amer., 136. Weeping [so] piteously … that the whole assistance became compassionate.
1651. Life Father Sarpi (1676), p. viii. Difficult propositions … by him maintained before that venerable assistance.
1881. G. Scott, junr., Eng. Ch. Archit., i. 8/2. In advance of the apse, and immediately in front of the bishop, stood the altar, in full view of all the assistance, the centre and omphalos of the whole design.
3. The action of helping or aiding in an undertaking or necessity; furtherance, succor; also, the help afforded, aid, support, relief. Formerly often in pl.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., I. (1495), 3. By the goode grace, helpe and assystence of almyghty god.
1494. Fabyan, an. 1267 (R.). Roger, with the assystence of the mayre … toke the sayd rasccall.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. ii. 4. Thus high, by thy aduice, and thy assistance, is King Richard seated.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. cviii. 12. All other assistances, beside that of heaven, being utterly unsufficient.
1740. Cibber, Apol. (1756), II. 79. Notwithstanding these assistances the expence of every play amounted to fifty pounds.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., viii. 70. Many people can ride on horseback who find it hard to get on and to get off without assistance.
† 4. collect. (rarely pl.) A body of helpers: see ASSISTANT sb. 3. (Cf. accountance, acquaintance.)
1564. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. II. xli. 463. To every parish belongeth … an assistance, being thirteen persons, to consist of such only as had before been church-wardens and constables.
1611. in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 106. The chief magistrate … was a Portgrave or Reve … and his assistances Burgesses.
1679. T. Oates, Myst. Iniq. Jesuits, 17. Give notice … to the Assistance at Rome, or to the Father-General.
1692. E. Settle, Tri. Lond., in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 555. Then twelve Gentlemen Ushers, and after them the Court of Assistance.
