auxiliary
auxiliary Lexical Profile
auxiliary Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Providing supplementary or additional help and support.
"The hospital employed several auxiliary staff members to assist the nursing team during the busy winter season."
Held in reserve for use in an emergency or when the primary system fails (especially of equipment or power sources).
"When the severe storm knocked out the main power grid, the building's auxiliary generator automatically kicked in."
• noun
A person or group that provides supplementary or additional help and support, such as a volunteer group affiliated with a larger organization.
"The local fire department relies heavily on its volunteer auxiliary to organize community fundraising events."
In grammar, a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs, such as 'be', 'do', or 'have'.
"In the sentence 'She has finished her essay,' the word 'has' functions as an auxiliary."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Latin auxiliarius ('helping, assisting'), from auxilium ('help, aid, support'), which is related to the verb augere ('to increase, augment').