helpmeet

English

Etymology

From a (mis?)interpretation of the phrase in Genesis 2:18 "an help meet" for Adam (i.e. suitable for him).

Noun

helpmeet (plural helpmeets)

1. A helpful partner, particularly a spouse.
   • 1839, The Friend's Intelligencer, volume 1, number 24, Eighth month 1st, 1839, article Friend's Discipline, pages 456–457:

     [on vocabulary errors] … and helpmates for meet-helps—the difference of the meaning of the two words is so obvious, that it is surprising it should have escaped attention.—A person may be a helpmate and at the same time be very far from being a help-meet, which is here intended.

Synonyms

• (helpful partner): helpmate