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auxiliary

19 ENTRIES FOUND:

1aux·il·ia·ry

adj
\g-ˈzil-yə-rē, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-\

Definition of AUXILIARY

1
a : offering or providing help b : functioning in a subsidiary capacity <an auxiliary branch of the state university>
2
of a verb : accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, mood, or tense
3
a : supplementary b : constituting a reserve <an auxiliary power plant>
4
: equipped with sails and a supplementary inboard engine <an auxiliary sloop>

Examples of AUXILIARY

  1. a sailboat with an auxiliary engine
  2. <the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days>
  3. Travelers have also been griping about a lack of air-conditioning while planes are on the tarmac—even after delays stretch for hours. Airlines blame the problem on a breakdown of a plane's auxiliary power unit. —Darren Everson, Wall Street Journal, 8 Aug. 2007

Origin of AUXILIARY

Latin auxiliaris, from auxilium help; akin to Latin augēre to increase — more at eke
First Known Use: 15th century

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