v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting. ] [ L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand. ] To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To lend aid; to help. [ 1913 Webster ]

With God not parted from him, as was feared,
But favoring and assisting to the end. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting. [ A Gallicism ] Gibbon. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. assistance. ] 1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without the assistance of a mortal hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wat Tyler [ was ] killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance, . . . John Cavendish. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Persons present. [ Obs. or a Gallicism ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister. ] 1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Genius and learning . . . are mutually and greatly assistant to each other. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help. [ 1913 Webster ]

Four assistants who his labor share. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rhymes merely as assistants to memory. Mrs. Chapone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An attendant; one who is present. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a manner to give aid. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An assistant; a helper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Helpful. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lending aid, helping. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without aid or help. [ R. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]