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Today it means

help

to make it easier for someone to do something

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Where does the word "help" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic helpaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

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Where does the word "help" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic helpaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Help’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: helpaną meant “to help.” German 'helfen' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as helpan. Its old past forms 'holp' and 'holpen' survive in the King James Bible. It reached English by 1500s as help. 'helpmate' grew from a misreading of 'an help meet for him' in Genesis. Today, help means to make it easier for someone to do something.

  1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient helpaną "to help", German 'helfen' is a cousin.
  2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s helpan "to help", its old past forms 'holp' and 'holpen' survive in the King James Bible.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s help "to assist", 'helpmate' grew from a misreading of 'an help meet for him' in Genesis.

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