I. -tənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English assistant (from Middle French, present participle of assister ) & assistent, from Latin assistent-, assistens, present participle of assistere
1. : giving aid or support : helpful , auxiliary
the guilty trade and the innocent manufacture were mutually assistant in more ways than one — G.M.Trevelyan
2. : acting as a subordinate to another : having a subordinate position or rank
an assistant editor
an assistant minister
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Middle French assistant ) of Middle English assistent, from Latin assistent-, assistens
1. archaic : one who is present : spectator
2.
a. : one who assists : helper
my close associate and invaluable assistant throughout the struggle
b. : one who acts as a subordinate to another or as an official in a subordinate capacity
accepted a post as resident assistant in a large hospital
was elected assistant and was for three years the only other officer — R.G.Usher
c. : a member usually of the lowest rank of a college or university faculty whose duties may include grading papers, supervising laboratories, or teaching classes
was appointed assistant in English
3. : a means of help : auxiliary
rhyme is an assistant to memory
4. : a substance that aids in the processing of textile fibers ; especially : a substance (as sodium sulfate) added to a dyebath for helping fix the dye or mordant to the yarn or fabric, for promoting level dyeing, or for promoting exhaustion of the dyebath