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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007Term for "member of an auxiliary group"
I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person who belongs to an auxiliary organization. I can't find any reference to this word, so I am wondering if it's correct or if this is a misspelling of a legitimate word. Assistance with this would be appreciated. Thanks! -c > I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person > who belongs to an auxiliary organization. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Assistance with this would be appreciated. I didn't find it in any of the standard online dictionaries. Wiktionary has it but calls it Latin and says it means "help" or "aid." <http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Auxilium>. The 'Lectric Law Library[1] defines it as "The military service owed by a vassal to his lord." <http://www.lectlaw.com/def/a095.htm>. It shows up on Google as the name of various things, but Google finds no definitions for it. "Auxiliar" comes closer but is archaic. I think someone's making up his own definions. [1] No relation that I can find to 'Lectric Shave.  SignatureBob Lieblich Primary > I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person > who belongs to an auxiliary organization. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Well we used to have an "auxiliary" bishop in our diocese until he became the "administrator". Other dioceses have "auxiliary" bishops, if that is any help. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. Don't know if it's used the same way "east of the pond," but the term auxiliary is commonly used (at least Midwestern region of the U.S.) to refer to semi-formal groups that support non-profit organizations -- especially hospitals and nursing homes. Virtually every small community in this area has a "hospital auxiliary" that does fund-raising for new equipment, special projects, improving the decor, etc., at the local health care facility. Members also frequently volunteer their time in the facilities. That's the context for the word I'm referring to. Thanks! -C > > I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person > > who belongs to an auxiliary organization. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > became the "administrator". Other dioceses have "auxiliary" bishops, if > that is any help. > I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person > who belongs to an auxiliary organization. > > I can't find any reference to this word, so I am wondering if it's > correct or if this is a misspelling of a legitimate word. It is a Latin word, pressed into service in English, although it is something of a back formation. The singular isn't normally used quite like this, but the plural form *is* used for groups of such folk. My _Elementary Latin Dictionary_, still useful even though the text is now over a century old, yields (citations of authors is suppressed): auxilium, 1, /n./ [AVC-] help, aid, assistance, support, succor, means of avoiding [labor], sources of aid -- /Plur./, auxiliary troops, auxiliaries -- Military force, troops. It is not insane to suggest that if the plural 'auxilia' refers to auxiliaries, then the singular 'auxilium' refers to an auxiliary. But the *English* word 'auxiliary' is available, with one sense being, according to the _Concise Oxford English Dictionary_, "an auxiliary person or thing." >> I recently came across the word auxilium, as a reference to a person >> who belongs to an auxiliary organization. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > -- /Plur./, auxiliary troops, auxiliaries > -- Military force, troops. In Spanish, *pedir auxilio* is still a common way to say "ask for help/aid/assistance", and clerks are *auxiliares administrativos* (admin assistants). SignatureArchie Valparaiso > >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Correct! When a ruling bishop asks for help, he receives an auxiliary bishop. Brilliant. |
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