helpmate, helpmeet
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helpmate, helpmeet — These words, of which the first is more often used, mean a helpful companion and usually refer to a spouse, especially a wife. In the second chapter of the Book of Genesis, God creates Eve as a help meet , for Adam, with help meaning someone to… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
helpmeet — See helpmate, helpmeet … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
helpmate — See helpmate, helpmeet … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
Helpmeet — Help meet , n. [See {Helpmate}.] A wife; a helpmate. [1913 Webster] The Lord God created Adam, . . . and afterwards, on his finding the want of a helpmeet, caused him to sleep, and took one of his ribs and thence made woman. J. H. Newman. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
helpmate — companion, 1715, altered from HELPMEET (Cf. helpmeet), a ghost word, from the Biblical translation of L. adjutorium simile sibi [Gen. ii.18] as an help meet (i.e. fit) for him (Heb. ezer keneghdo), which already by 1673 was being printed as help… … Etymology dictionary
helpmeet — as two words in the 1611 Bible, a noun verb phrase; hyphenated and mistaken as a modified noun by 1670s; see HELPMATE (Cf. helpmate) … Etymology dictionary
helpmeet — [help′mēt΄] n. [mistakenly read as a single word in “an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18): see HELP & MEET2] HELPMATE … English World dictionary
helpmate — (= helpmeet), noun he thanked his wife of twenty years for being his helpmate and best friend Syn: helper, assistant, attendant; supporter, friend, companion; spouse, partner, life partner, mate, husband, wife … Thesaurus of popular words
helpmate — (also helpmeet) ► NOUN ▪ a helpful companion or partner. ORIGIN from an erroneous reading of a passage in the Book of Genesis (chapter 2), where Adam s future wife is described as ‘an help meet for him’ (i.e. a suitable helper for him) … English terms dictionary
helpmate — [help′māt΄] n. [altered < HELPMEET] a helpful companion; specif., a wife or, sometimes, a husband … English World dictionary
