Help vs Lighten - What's the difference?
help | lighten | Related terms |
(uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
(usually, uncountable) Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.
Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.
(usually, uncountable) One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.
(uncountable, euphemistic) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.
To provide assistance to (someone or something).
* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= To contribute in some way to.
To provide assistance.
* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=19 * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can .
To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
To make light or lighter in weight.
To make less serious or more cheerful.
* Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
* Dryden
To become light or lighter in weight.
To become less serious or more cheerful.
To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
* Shakespeare
To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
* Shakespeare
To descend; to light.
* Book of Common Prayer
To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
* Sir J. Davies
Help is a related term of lighten.
In lang=en terms the difference between help and lighten
is that help is to avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself) usually used in nonassertive contexts with can while lighten is to emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.As verbs the difference between help and lighten
is that help is to provide assistance to (someone or something) while lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of.As a noun help
is (uncountable) action given to provide assistance; aid.help
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl), from (etyl) .Noun
(en-noun)- I need some help with my homework.
- He was a great help to me when I was moving house.
- I've printed out a list of math helps .
- I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.
- The help is coming round this morning to clean.
- Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.
- 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.Quotations
(English Citations of "help")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-helpEtymology 2
From (etyl) helpen, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) .Verb
Snakes and ladders, passage=Risk is everywhere.
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.}}
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.}}
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, seeSynonyms
* (provide assistance to) aid, assist, come to the aid of, help out * (contribute in some way to) contribute to * (provide assistance) assistDerived terms
* a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down * can't help * helper * helping * help oneself * help outlighten
English
Verb
(en verb)- They looked unto him, were lightened .
- to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
- A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
- This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
- His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
- O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
- Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.