/euh sis"teuhnt/ , n.
1. 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.
adj.
5. assisting; helpful.
6. serving in an immediately subordinate position; of secondary rank: an assistant coach.
[ 1400-50; late ME assistent assistent- (s. of assistens, prp. of assistere to ASSIST); see -ENT, -ANT ]
Syn. 2. aide, adjutant.