Helpful
/ˈhɛlp.fəl/noun
Giving or ready to give help; useful.
Did you know?“Help” comes from Old English *helpan*, a deeply ancient Germanic verb tied to assistance and rescue, not magic — but its survival in everyday speech shows how old words for protection can become moral power words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kelbʰ-
“to help, support”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*helpaną
“to help, aid”
Old English
English
helpan
“to help, assist, save”
Middle English
English
helpful
“ready to help; serviceable”
Modern English
English
helpful
“giving help; useful”