v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. (often foll. by in + verbal noun) help (a person, process, etc.) (assisted them in running the playgroup).
2 intr. (often foll. by in, at) assist or be present (assisted in the ceremony).
--n. US 1 help; an act of helping.
2 Baseball etc. a player's action of helping to put out an opponent, score a goal, etc.
Derivatives:
assistance n. assister n.
Etymology: ME f. F assister f. L assistere take one's stand by (as AD-, sistere take one's stand)