1. [n]  the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading"
2. [n]  the work of caring for or attending to someone or something; "no medical care was required"; "the old car needed constant attention"
3. [n]  a resource; "visual aids in teaching"; "economic assistance to depressed areas"
4. [n]  a gift of money to support a worthy person or cause
5. [v]  improve the condition of; "These pills will help the patient"
6. [v]  give help or assistance; be of service; "Everyone helped out during the earthquake"; "Can you help me carry this table?"; "She never helps around the house"

1. \Aid\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Aided}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Aiding}.] [F. aider, OF. aidier, fr. L. adjutare to help,
   freq. of adjuvare to help; ad + juvare to help. Cf.
   {Adjutant}.]
   To support, either by furnishing strength or means in
   co["o]peration to effect a purpose, or to prevent or to
   remove evil; to help; to assist.
         You speedy helpers . . . Appear and aid me in this
         enterprise.                              --Shak.
   Syn: To help; assist; support; sustain; succor; relieve;
        befriend; co["o]perate; promote. See {Help}.
   

2. \Aid\, n. [F. aide, OF. a["i]de, a["i]e, fr. the verb. See
   {Aid}, v. t.]
   1. Help; succor; assistance; relief.
            An unconstitutional mode of obtaining aid. --Hallam.
   2. The person or thing that promotes or helps in something
      done; a helper; an assistant.
            It is not good that man should be alone; let us make
            unto him an aid like unto himself.    --Tobit viii.
                                                  6.
   3. (Eng. Hist.) A subsidy granted to the king by Parliament;
      also, an exchequer loan.
   4. (Feudal Law) A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his
      lord on special occasions. --Blackstone.
   5. An aid-de-camp, so called by abbreviation; as, a general's
      aid.
   {Aid prayer} (Law), a proceeding by which a defendant
      beseeches and claims assistance from some one who has a
      further or more permanent interest in the matter in suit.
   {To pray in aid}, to beseech and claim such assistance.
   

Algebraic Interpretive Dialogue