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adj. 1. Giving assistance or support; helping. 2. Acting as a subsidiary; supplementary: the main library and its auxiliary branches. 3. Held in or used as a reserve: auxiliary troops; an auxiliary power generator. 4. Nautical Equipped with a motor as well as sails. 5. Grammar Of, relating to, or being an auxiliary verb. n. pl. aux·il·ia·ries 1. An individual or group that assists or functions in a supporting capacity: a volunteers' auxiliary at a hospital. 2. A member of a foreign body of troops serving a country in war. 3. Grammar An auxiliary verb. 4. Nautical a. A sailing vessel equipped with a motor. b. A vessel, such as a supply ship or a tug, that is designed for and used in instances and services other than combat. [Middle English, from Latin auxiliārius, from auxilium, help; see aug- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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