auxiliary
adjective
aux·il·ia·ry
| \ ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē
, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-
\
, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-
\
Definition of auxiliary
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: offering or providing help
b
: functioning in a subsidiary capacity
an auxiliary branch of the state university
2
of a verb
: accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, mood, or tense
In "I will go," the word "will" is an auxiliary verb.
3a
: supplementary
a telescope with its auxiliary apparatus
b
: constituting a reserve
an auxiliary power plant an auxiliary police force
auxiliary
noun
aux·il·ia·ry
| \ ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē
, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-\
, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-\
plural auxiliaries
Definition of auxiliary (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: an auxiliary person, group, or device
specifically
: a member of a foreign force serving a nation at war
b
: a Roman Catholic titular bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession
— called also auxiliary bishop
2
: a sailing boat or ship equipped with a supplementary inboard engine
3
grammar
: an auxiliary verb
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Synonyms & Antonyms for auxiliary
Synonyms: Adjective
accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of auxiliary in a Sentence
Adjective
Travelers have also been griping about a lack of air-conditioning while planes are on the tarmac—even after delays stretch for hours. Airlines blame the problem on a breakdown of a plane's auxiliary power unit. — Darren Everson, Wall Street Journal, 8 Aug. 2007 However, on March 1, 1896, Italian forces underwent a stunning defeat at Adwa, where they fought against the warriors of the Abyssinian emperor, Menelik. Some five thousand Italian troops and two thousand native auxiliary troops had been killed or captured, and the colony had been lost. — Mirella Tenderini et al., The Duke of the Abruzzi, 1997 The rotund 6'1", 235-pound object of their affections hasn't played a day of major league baseball, he dresses in the auxiliary locker room, and he isn't even listed on Boston's 40-man roster. But after a resplendent summer last year at Triple A Pawtucket and a winter of panegyrics from a giddy Boston press, first baseman Maurice Samuel (Mo) Vaughn, 23, has arrived as a "real" rookie who everyone in Red Sox-land hopes is the real thing. — Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 1 Apr. 1991 a sailboat with an auxiliary engine the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering daysNoun
In 1944 Forrestal also began a program of sending black enlisted men to serve in a limited number of fleet auxiliaries. These were still not warships, but they were seagoing vessels and closer to the fighting Navy than the small harbor-defense craft and harbor auxiliaries that had initially been open to black crews. — The Golden Thirteen, 1993 Roman cavalry was poorly developed; they relied on wings, called alae, of horsemen supplied by their auxiliaries. The favorite Roman battle formation was of a triple line of cohorts with alae sweeping the flanks. — Kenneth P. Czech, MHQ : The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Autumn 1992Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
This includes 33 Gough St., a former City College of San Francisco auxiliary campus where heights will be lifted from 85 feet to 250 feet. — J.k. Dineen, SFChronicle.com, "City ready to raise height limits, allowing more housing units near Market and Van Ness," 3 Sep. 2019 The British Royal Navy dispatched an auxiliary aid ship, the RFA Mounts Bay. — Jasper Ward, Washington Post, "Slow-moving Hurricane Dorian pounding the Bahamas for a third punishing day; children among the dead," 3 Sep. 2019 Bleier joined the group of fourth through eighth grade boys in the auxiliary clubhouse, where barbers from Tampa Bay and Baltimore had set up stations with chairs, mirrors and lights in the lockers. — Giana Han, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles’ Mychal Givens in giving spirit for Players’ Weekend, providing hair cuts, advice for Baltimore kids," 24 Aug. 2019 Binzer retained his title and other duties as auxiliary bishop. — Dan Horn, Cincinnati.com, "West Side priest Geoff Drew indicted on rape charges," 19 Aug. 2019 Teachers with one to five years of experience will receive a 3.5 percent increase, teachers with six or more years of experience will receive a 4.5 percent increase, and auxiliary staff will receive a 2.5 percent increase. — Brooke Lamantia, ExpressNews.com, "Randolph Field ISD raises teacher pay as much as 12 percent," 12 Aug. 2019 The Connecticut News-Times reported that a state police spokesperson confirmed Dennis was an auxiliary state trooper, part of a volunteer force that enforces state laws on highways. — Cara Kelly, USA TODAY, "Boy Scouts lawsuit: Parents trust teachers and counselors. But should they?," 8 Aug. 2019 For the summer weeks in Glendale, the Cardinals typically have all the rookies in an auxiliary locker room due to space. — Katherine Fitzgerald, azcentral, "Subtle differences at Cardinals training camp mark the start of the Kliff Kingsbury era," 28 July 2019 Netanyahu spoke at the Babi Yar site, a patchwork of ravines on the margins of the Ukrainian capital where Ukrainian auxiliary police took about 33,000 Jews to be murdered by German soldiers on Sept. 29 and 30, 1941. — Cnaan Liphshiz, sun-sentinel.com, "Netanyahu wades into the debate on Ukraine’s Holocaust record in commemoration speech," 20 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The auxiliary has been awarding scholarships for 46 years totaling more than $1.1 million. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "North County School News, Aug. 22," 22 Aug. 2019 McCue even has an aunt, Alice, who served locally as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. — Emily Brindley, courant.com, "West Hartford assistant police chief retiring after 39 years," 11 July 2019 But as always, the 50-some Losers and their auxiliaries enjoyed the potluck spread plus outdoor grill; emcee Kyle Hendrickson’s somewhat abbreviated game; the presentation of awards for milestones of 50, 100, 200, etc. — Washington Post, "The Style Invitational Empress on this week’s contest and results," 3 July 2019 Armed civilian groups have been an intermittent presence on the border for years, portraying themselves as auxiliaries to the Border Patrol and operating in areas where agents are not stationed. — Fox News, "Civilian border militia spokesman indicted for impersonating US officer: prosecutors," 24 June 2019 Representatives from all six Cecil County auxiliaries attended. — Joanne Bierly, baltimoresun.com, "Port Deposit: VFW names Bo Manor's Christy 'Teacher of the Year'," 21 June 2019 Dyes, auxiliaries, and accessories must also meet certain environmental criteria. — Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson, Marie Claire, "The Do's and Don't's of a Closet Refresh," 6 May 2019 East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary was founded in 1972; proceeds from the event goes to the auxiliary's Nursing Scholarship and Certification program. ******* To reach Sue Strachan, send an email to socialscene@nola.com or call 504.450.5904. — Sue Strachan, NOLA.com, "8 celebrated at 42nd annual Great Lady/Great Gentleman Awards," 5 June 2018 For more information about the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page, or the auxiliary's website. — Samantha West, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Lots of Milwaukee firehouses lack laundry machines. Here's why that's a problem.," 3 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auxiliary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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