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Word of the Day: Auxiliary

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Word of the Day
: March 27, 2024

\awg-ZILL-yuh-ree\ adjective

What It Means

In general use, auxiliary describes someone or something available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed. In linguistics, an auxiliary verb (also called a “helping verb”) is used with another verb to do things like show a verb’s tense or form a question. In nautical contexts, auxiliary can describe a sailboat equipped with a supplementary inboard engine, or a vessel that provides supplementary assistance to other ships.

// The auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days.

// “Are” in “They are arriving soon” is an auxiliary verb.

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auxiliary in Context

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