What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Help vs Befriend - What's the difference?

help | befriend | Related terms |

Help is a related term of befriend.


In lang=en terms the difference between help and befriend

is that help is to avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself) usually used in nonassertive contexts with can while befriend is to favor.

As verbs the difference between help and befriend

is that help is to provide assistance to (someone or something) while befriend is to become a friend of, to make friends with.

As a noun help

is (uncountable) action given to provide assistance; aid.

help

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
  • I need some help with my homework.
  • (usually, uncountable) Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.
  • He was a great help to me when I was moving house.
    I've printed out a list of math helps .
  • Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.
  • I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.
  • (usually, uncountable) One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.
  • The help is coming round this morning to clean.
    Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.
  • (uncountable, euphemistic) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.
  • His suicide attempts were a cry for help .
    He really needs help in handling customer complaints.
    ''"He's a real road-rager." / "Yup, he really needs help , maybe anger management."
    Usage notes
    The sense "people employed to help in the maintenance of a house" is usually an uncountable mass noun. A countable form - "a hired help''", "''two hired helps " - is attested, but now less common.
    Synonyms
    * (action given to provide assistance) aid, assistance * (person or persons who provide assistance) * (person employed to help in the maintenance of a house)
    Derived terms
    * cry for help * help desk * helpful * helpless * helpline * helply * helpmate * helpmeet * helpsome * home help * self-help

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) helpen, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To provide assistance to (someone or something).
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Snakes and ladders , passage=Risk is everywhere.
  • To contribute in some way to.
  • To provide assistance.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help , and he stripped off his tunic at once.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= A punch in the gut , passage=Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.}}
  • To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can .
  • Usage notes
    * Use 3 is often used in the imperative mood as a call for assistance. * In uses 1, 2 and 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . It can also take the bare infinitive with no change in meaning. * In use 4, can't help is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) or, with but, the bare infinitive. * For more information, see
    Synonyms
    * (provide assistance to) aid, assist, come to the aid of, help out * (contribute in some way to) contribute to * (provide assistance) assist
    Derived terms
    * a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down * can't help * helper * helping * help oneself * help out

    befriend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To become a friend of, to make friends with.
  • * 1854 , (Henry David Thoreau), (Walden), p. 143.
  • Every little pine needle expanded and swelled with sympathy and befriended me.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (dated) To act as a friend to, to assist.
  • * (rfdate) (Jonathan Swift)
  • Brother servants must befriend one another.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • To favor.
  • * 1599 , (William Shakespeare),
  • If it will please Caesar / To be so good to Caesar, as to hear me, / I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
  • * 1709 , (John Denham) "The Sophy", in Poems and translations: with the Sophy, a tragedy , Fifth edition [http://books.google.com/books?id=J_oKSClMF7cC&pg=PA259&lpg=PA259&dq=%22Now+if+your+plots+be+ripe,+you+are+%27%27%27befriended%27%27%27+With+opportunity%22&source=bl&ots=TM1JZjzUhv&sig=YqPk32bF8zeqdypmaXvHUKGZ_pQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZQ1ZUNmmJsa_0QGBkoGgBw&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Now%20if%20your%20plots%20be%20ripe%2C%20you%20are%20%27%27%27befriended%27%27%27%20With%20opportunity%22&f=false]
  • Now if your plots be ripe, you are befriended / With opportunity.
  • * 1709 , (Alexander Pope), ''(An Essay on Criticism)
  • Be thou the first true merit to befriend ; / His praise is lost, who stays till all commend.
  • * 1712 , (Joseph Addison), . As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, by His Majesty's servants , Act II, edited and published by Jacob Tonson (1733)
  • See them embarked, And tell me if the winds and seas befriend them.
  • * 1843 , (Thomas Carlyle), , ch. 4, "Morrison's Pill"
  • This Universe has its Laws. If we walk according to the Law, the Law-Maker will befriend us; if not, not.

    Antonyms

    * * *

    Derived terms

    * * *