a person who assists or gives aid and support; helper.
2.
a person who is subordinate to another in rank, function, etc.; one holding a secondary rank in an office or post: He was assistant to the office manager.
3.
something that aids and supplements another.
4.
a faculty member of a college or university who ranks below an instructor and whose responsibilities usually include grading papers, supervising laboratories, and assisting in teaching.
–adjective
5.
assisting; helpful.
6.
serving in an immediately subordinate position; of secondary rank: an assistant coach.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME assistent < L assistent- (s. of assisténs, prp. of assistere to assist); see -ent, -ant]
Synonyms: These nouns denote a person who holds a position auxiliary to another and assumes some of his or her responsibilities: an editorial assistant; a senator's aide; the general's coadjutant; a bishop's coadjutor; a teacher's helper; a politician's lieutenant; a prizefighter's second.
of or relating to a person who is subordinate to another [syn: adjunct]
noun
1.
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work"
As*sist"ant\, a. [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.]1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary. Genius and learning . . . are mutually and greatly assistant to each other. --Beattie. 2. (Mil.) Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon. [U.S.] Note: In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff. --Farrow.
As*sist"ant\, n. 1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help. Four assistants who his labor share. --Pope. Rhymes merely as assistants to memory. --Mrs. Chapone. 2. An attendant; one who is present. --Dryden.