assist

present singular third person assists · participle present assisting · participle past assisted · past assisted

1. To help.

   Tutor feedback assists the learning process.

   2 more examples

   This book will assist you in getting your life in order.

   The referee seemed well placed to award the goal, but video evidence suggested the protests were well founded and the incident only strengthens the case of those lobbying for technology to assist officials.

   2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC

2. hobbiesTo make a pass that leads directly towards scoring.
3. medicineTo help compensate for what is missing with the help of a medical technique or therapy.
4. archaicTo stand (at a place) or to (an opinion).

   A great part of the nobility assisted to his opinion.

5. archaicTo be present (at an event, occasion etc.).

   To assist at Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.

   1967, The Rev. Loren Gavitt (ed.), Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for members of the Episcopal Church, revised edition, West Park, NY: Holy Cross Publications, p. 8

   1 more example

   I assisted with pleasure at the representation of several tragedies and comedies.

   1789, Edward Gibbon, Memoirs of My Life, Penguin, published 1990, page 138

plural assists

1. A helpful action or an act of giving.

   The foundation gave a much needed assist to the shelter.

2. The act of helping another player score points or goals
   1. ball gamesA decisive pass made to the goal scorer

      Özil has 16 assists in the Premier League and three goals; he has two more goals in the Champions League. On Monday, he took Bournemouth apart in the 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, setting up the first for Gabriel and scoring the second himself.

      2016 January 1, David Hytner, “Mesut Özil has Arsenal daring to dream of Premier League glory”, in The Guardian

   2. ball gamesA defensive play, allowing a teammate to record a putout.

      He had two assists in the game.