Assistance is the help given to somebody. Offer assistance, financial assistance, come to his assistance.
It is the formal word for help, and it belongs to officials, signs and forms — which is why plain writing guides tell you to use help instead. Public assistance means state benefits. Note the Latin, which means to stand by.
1nounassistanceThe help given to somebody.
“If you need any assistance with your bags, please ask a member of staff.”
assistance is help.
Latin assistere means to stand by, from ad, to, plus sistere, to stand. Assist is the same verb.
Latin
assistō — to stand at
Medieval Latin
assistentia
Middle French
assistance
Middle English
assistance
English, today
assistance
From Middle English assistance, from Middle French assistance, from Medieval Latin assistentia, from Latin assistō (“to stand at”). by surface analysis, assist + -ance.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA