Correct spelling, explanation: aid and aide are two different words with distinct meanings. While they’re related in the sense that they both involve assistance or help, they have different meanings and usages. Aid is a noun referring to the support itself, while aide is a noun referring to the person providing the support. The word aid entered the English language in the 15th century, borrowed from the Old French term aide, which meant help or assistance. Old French, in turn, derived aide from the Late Latin word adjutare, which also meant to help or to assist.
Definition of aid:
1. noun, help or support, or something that provides it
After the devastating flood, the international community rushed to provide humanitarian aid to the affected regions, including food, shelter, and medical supplies.
The organization’s primary goal is to offer financial aid and scholarships to underprivileged students, ensuring they have access to quality education.
2. verb, to help
The paramedics quickly arrived to aid the injured hiker, providing medical attention and preparing them for evacuation.
The government pledged to aid struggling farmers by implementing subsidies and offering financial support during the drought.
Collocations with aid:
Some most commonly used collocations include:
1. Humanitarian aid: assistance provided to people in need due to natural disasters, conflicts, or other crises, often in the form of food, water, medical supplies, and shelter.
The Red Cross provided humanitarian aid to the victims of the earthquake, supplying them with food, water, and medical assistance.
2. Foreign aid: assistance, usually financial or material, given by one country to another to support development, economic growth, or humanitarian efforts.
The government decided to increase foreign aid to support education and healthcare initiatives in developing countries.
3. Aid organization/aid agency: a non-governmental organization (NGO) or a government agency dedicated to providing aid and humanitarian assistance in various regions around the world.
Doctors Without Borders is a renowned aid organization that dispatches medical professionals to crisis zones worldwide.
4. Aid worker: an individual who works for an aid organization and provides assistance, support, and services to those in need, often in challenging and remote areas.
Many aid workers risk their lives to deliver aid and relief to war-torn regions and areas affected by natural disasters.
Correct spelling, explanation: both of the words aide and the word aid are correct. Even though they have similar meanings, are written similarly, and are pronounced the same, they cannot be used interchangeably. Aid is a verb and a noun, while aide is just a noun. Aid as a noun is usually used for assistance and aide – for assistant. Aide entered the English language in the 18th century as a loanword from the Old French term aide. You should be careful not to confuse one of these words for another.
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