(a) To render assistance, provide aid; assist (sb.), help; attend (a woman in childbirth) [quot. a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin]; facilitate (digestion); ~ ayen, aid (sb.) against (sb. else); (b) to furnish sustenance; furnish (sb.) with the necessities of life, provide (sb.) with food, drink, etc.; support (sb.), maintain; also, provide for (one's needs); furnish (sth.); (c) to remedy or relieve a condition; relieve (pain), assuage; ben socoured to, be relieved with respect to (aching); (d) to comfort (sb.); also, relieve (distress or hardship); (e) in asseveration; also in proverb.

To aid (sb.) in battle, furnish (sb., a city) with military assistance; fight on behalf of (sb.).

(a) To effect a rescue; rescue (sb. or sth.) from danger, destruction, etc., save (sb., someone's life); relieve (a besieged city); also, effect (someone's rescue); (b) to give (sb.) refuge, shelter (sb.); give (sb.) sanctuary; also, refl. take refuge; (c) to afford protection, give protection [quots. a1420]; protect (sb. or sth.), defend (sb., a city, the common right); -- also refl.; also, preserve (sth.), keep safe.

To furnish (sb., a soul, the world) with spiritual aid; save (sb.) from damnation; provide spiritual comfort to (sb.), sustain; also, of Venus: comfort (sb.) in love.

(a) To prevent (sth.), avoid; also, with clause as obj.: prevent (sth. from happening); (b) ?to do (sth.), be busy about; ?error for sikeren v.