helpmeet

/ˈhɛlpmiːt/

Etymology

Univerbation of part of a phrase in Genesis 2:18 in the King James Version: “an helpe meet” for Adam (i.e. a helper suitable for him) (help + meet).

noun

  1. A helpful partner, particularly a spouse.“[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.”