As a verb, to help means to make it easier for someone to do something or to improve a situation. As a noun, help is the assistance or support given.
From Old English “helpan,” meaning to aid or support, related to other Germanic words with the same sense. It has changed very little in meaning over time.
We use “help” in tiny ways (“help yourself”) and huge ones (“help save lives”), but the core idea is always easing a burden. Even “it can’t be helped” quietly admits that usually, we believe things can be changed with the right support.
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