auxiliary meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

auxiliary

adj

UK /ɔːɡˈzɪl.(j)ə.ɹi/ · US /ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/

Etymology From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxiliāris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from augēre (“to increase”).

Helping; giving assistance or support.

auxiliary troops

Supplementary or subsidiary.

Held in reserve for exceptional circumstances.

Nautical, Transport Of a ship, having both sails and an engine.

Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Relating to an auxiliary verb.

Synonyms: accessory, motorsailer

auxiliary

noun

Etymology From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxiliāris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from augēre (“to increase”).

A person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.

Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for train brakes when hauling passenger or fitted freight trains, and an oil-fired train heating boiler.1950 November, “Mixed-Traffic Diesel-Electric Locomotives for Ireland”, in Railway Magazine, page 781:
A drive to exploit the Highlands as a winter sports area, with all the necessary auxiliaries, such as chair lifts in the Cairngorms, shows increasing promise, […].1962 September, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—1”, in Modern Railways, page 163:

1 more example

Summer “felt betrayed” that a close friend had used AI as “an auxiliary” to talk to her.2025 June 30, Adrienne Matei, “‘Hey man, I’m so sorry for your loss’: should you use AI to text?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Nautical, Transport A sailing vessel equipped with an engine.

Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Abbreviation, Ellipsis Ellipsis of auxiliary verb.

The three traditionally recognized Non-modal Auxiliaries are the per- fective Auxiliary have, the progressive Auxiliary be, and the passive Auxiliary be. Perfective have is so-called because it marks the completion (hence, perfec- tion) of an action; it is followed by a VP headed by a perfective -n participle, as in: (121) The referee has [_(VP) shown him the red card]1988, Andrew Radford, Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 151:

A marching band color guard.

Derived terms: Auxie, auxiliarily, auxiliarist, auxiliary bishop, auxiliary cell, auxiliary cruiser, auxiliary ego, auxiliary language, auxiliary oiler, auxiliary power unit, auxiliary storage, auxlang, electroauxiliary, international auxiliary language, ladies' auxiliary, modal auxiliary, nonauxiliary, nurse auxiliary, perfect auxiliary, semiauxiliary
Related terms: auction, auctioneer, augment, augmentation, axillary