Auxiliary

//ɔːɡˈzɪl.(j)ə.ɹi// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Helping; giving assistance or support. not-comparable

    "auxiliary troops"

  2. 2
    Supplementary or subsidiary. not-comparable
  3. 3
    Held in reserve for exceptional circumstances. not-comparable
  4. 4
    Of a ship, having both sails and an engine. not-comparable
  5. 5
    Relating to an auxiliary verb. not-comparable
Adjective
  1. 1
    functioning in a supporting capacity wordnet
  2. 2
    furnishing added support wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.

    "Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for train brakes when hauling passenger or fitted freight trains, and an oil-fired train heating boiler."

  2. 2
    someone who acts as assistant wordnet
  3. 3
    A sailing vessel equipped with an engine.
  4. 4
    Ellipsis of auxiliary verb. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

    "The three traditionally recognized Non-modal Auxiliaries are the per- fective Auxiliary have, the progressive Auxiliary be, and the passive Auxiliary be. Perfective have is so-called because it marks the completion (hence, perfec- tion) of an action; it is followed by a VP headed by a perfective -n participle, as in: (121) The referee has [_(VP) shown him the red card]"

  5. 5
    A marching band color guard.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxiliāris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from augēre (“to increase”).

Etymology 2

From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxiliāris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from augēre (“to increase”).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: auxiliary