Aid, subst., assistance of any kind, succour: Sonn. 86, 8. Lucr. 1696. Alls I, 2, 7. Wint. IV, 4, 638. R2 II, 3, 150. H6A I, 1, 143. IV, 4, 23. IV, 4, 23 H6B IV, 5, 7. H6C III, 1, 43. III, 3, 148. III, 3, 148 R3 V, 3, 173. H8 I, 2, 114. Ant. II, 2, 88. Cymb. V, 4, 43. for a. == to seek assistance: H6A IV, 4, 11. H6C III, 1, 28. Tit. IV, 3, 15. “in a.” Ant. V, 2, 27. “the good a.” All's III, 7, 11. raising of more a. (== assistants) Err. V, 153. “with a. of soldiers” H6C II, 1, 147. H6B IV, 5, 4. Hml. IV, 1, 33.
A. of one or sth. either == the assistance given by one or sth.: “expecting the a. of Buckingham,” R3 IV, 4, 438. “a lack of Timon's a.” Tim. V, 1, 150. “with the a. of use,” Mcb. I, 3, 146. “by whose a.” Ven. 1190. Tp. V, 40. “keep them from thy a.” Lucr. 912. Sonn. 79, 1. Tp. V, 143. All's I, 3, 242. V, 3, 329. John II, 584. H4A V, 1, 46. H6A I, 2, 82. IV, 3, 12. H6C III, 3, 32. R3 IV, 5, 5. Cor. V, 1, 33. Cymb. V, 4, 43. Per. III, 2, 35. Or the assistance given to one or sth.: “in a. whereof we will raise a mighty sum,” H5 I, 2, 132. “in his poor heart's a.” Lucr. 1784. “be my a.” Tw. I, 2, 53. “they will be at his a.” H6A IV, 4, 41. “flock to their a.” R3 IV, 4, 507. “to our a.” Cor. I, 7, 3. “upon his a.” Mcb. III, 6, 30.
Plural: “surmise of --s incertain,” H4B I, 3, 24. “all --s, themselves made fairer by their place,” Compl. 117, i. e. things serving to set off his person.*