A helper or companion, especially in marriage; a partner who provides assistance and support.
From a reinterpretation of the Biblical phrase 'help meet for him' (Genesis 2:18), where 'meet' meant 'suitable' or 'fitting.' Over time, 'help meet' was read as a single compound word, creating 'helpmeet.'
This word perfectly captures a moment when English speakers misread an old Biblical phrase and accidentally created a new word—the original 'meet' meant 'fitting,' but people thought it meant 'a mate for helping.'
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