help
/hɛlp/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*helpaną — to help, assist, save
Overview
Meaning Now
- to provide assistance or support to someone
- to serve as a remedy or relief for a problem or condition
Literal older meaning
to aid, support, or benefit
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
helpan
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word stems from a common Germanic root. In Old English, it functioned as a strong verb (helpan, healp, hulpon, holpen). Over time, it transitioned to a weak verb conjugation, losing its irregular past tense forms.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*helpaną
“to help, assist”
- Old English
helpan
“to help, assist, support, save”
- Middle English
helpen
“to help, be of use”
- Modern English
help
“to assist; to serve”
Connections
Word parts
help
root
aid, support
Related across languages
German
helfen
to help
Dutch
helpen
to help
Swedish
hjälpa
to help
Explore next
Related to help
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.