Aide Is Short for Aide-de-Camp
An aide is an assistant, especially to an important person. The word is a clipping of a French military title.
An aide is an assistant, particularly to a political or military figure. The word is short for *aide-de-camp*, French for a camp assistant — an officer attending a general, carrying orders and managing his affairs in the field. English shortened it in the 1800s and broadened it to civilian use. The spelling with a final E distinguishes it from *aid*, meaning help; a *presidential aide* is a person, *foreign aid* is assistance.
- An assistant. *A senior aide.*
- Aide-de-camp — the full title. *Aide-de-camp.*
- Aid — help, not a person. *Foreign aid.*
- French — *aide*, a helper. *The source.*
- Latin — *adiutare*, to help. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | aide | An aide. |
| Plural | aides | Aides. |
| Full form | aide-de-camp | Aide-de-camp. |
| Related | aid | Aid. |
| Latin | adiutare | To help. |
- A senior aide briefed the press.Politics.
- Aide-de-camp means camp assistant.Military.
- Aid means help, not a person.Distinction.
Aide and aid
- Aide — a person who assists
- Aid — assistance itself, or to help
- Aide-memoire — a memory aid, keeping the French spelling
- First aid — emergency assistance
- Hearing aid — a device, so aid rather than aide
French *aide*, a helper, short for *aide-de-camp*, from Latin *adiutare*, to help.
Aide or aid?
Aide is a person who assists; aid is the assistance itself or the verb to help.
What is an aide-de-camp?
A military officer attending a senior commander, carrying orders and handling his affairs in the field.