Helping

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈhɛlpɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A portion of food served to a person ; the act of providing assistance or support to someone
2. The quantity of food given at one time ; the action of aiding or supporting others to accomplish something
3. An amount of food meant to be eaten once ; the process of offering help or support when needed

Etymology: "Helping" is a plain formation: the verb "help" with the suffix "-ing" attached. The noun sense, a portion of food served at one time, is the one that surprises most readers, since it seems far removed from assistance. Its roots go back to Old English "helpan," meaning "to help," which the form took its shape from through the present-participle ending "helpende" and its Middle English descendants. The two senses developed along the same line. Both come from the idea of giving something to another person, whether aid or a share of a meal. A helping of food is literally what one person hands to another at the table, so the sense of giving a portion followed naturally from the general notion of helping someone.

Synonyms: assisting, aiding, supporting, facilitating, contributing

Antonyms: hindering, obstructing, impeding, preventing, discouraging