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a disease of the immune system characterized by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, as pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and candidiasis, to certain cancers, as Kaposi’s sarcoma, and to neurological disorders: caused by a retrovirus and transmitted chiefly through blood or blood products that enter the body’s bloodstream, especially by sexual contact or contaminated hypodermic needles.
to provide support for or relief to; help:
to aid the homeless victims of the fire.
to promote the progress or accomplishment of; facilitate.
to give help or assistance.
help or support; assistance.
a person or thing that aids or furnishes assistance; helper; auxiliary.
aids, Manège.

Also called natural aids. the means by which a rider communicates with and controls a horse, as the hands, legs, voice, and shifts in weight.
Also called artificial aids. the devices by means of which a rider increases control of a horse, as spurs, whip, and martingale.

.
.
a payment made by feudal vassals to their lord on special occasions.
English History. (after 1066) any of several revenues received by a king in the Middle Ages from his vassals and other subjects, limited by the Magna Charta to specified occasions.
the division of the United States International Development Cooperation Agency that coordinates the various foreign aid programs with U.S. foreign policy: established in 1961.
Contemporary Examples

Gia Carangi died in 1986 at age 26 of complications from AIDS.
Olympic Cyclist Dotsie Bausch’s Past as a Model Battling Anorexia and Drug Addiction Jennifer Sky August 10, 2012

And then he had this discovery that he had AIDS, and he made the fateful decision to go get these drugs.
The True Story Behind Dallas Buyers Club: Meet the Real Ron Woodruff Andrew Romano November 2, 2013

Although Rex Reed said once that AIDS has done more for sexual fidelity than the Bible, you know.
Jim Harrison Can Make You a Better Animal John Avlon September 22, 2010

I have presided over the funerals of gay men who have died of AIDS.
Tim Tebow’s ‘Hate’ Pastor Responds to Quarterback’s Withdrawal David Freedlander February 21, 2013

For a while he mines a topical vein: Imelda Marcos, the S&L crisis, AIDS.
The Stacks: Robin Williams, More Than A Shtick Figure Joe Morgenstern August 15, 2014

Historical Examples

Whoever conceals a thief or stolen property or AIDS a thief in any way, shall be punished as a thief.
A Source Book for Mediaeval History Oliver J. Thatcher

Profiting by these AIDS, an improved type of cable was designed.
Heroes of the Telegraph J. Munro

You know I never use that except for the minister or the AIDS.
Anne Of Green Gables Lucy Maud Montgomery

Has England considered Napper Tandy and his AIDS as belligerents?
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 Adam Gurowski

Manner of applying the AIDS: The action of the reins and legs and weight should not be continuous.
Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army War Department.

noun acronym
acquired immune (or immuno-)deficiency syndrome: a condition, caused by a virus, in which certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) are destroyed, resulting in loss of the body’s ability to protect itself against disease. AIDS is transmitted by sexual intercourse, through infected blood and blood products, and through the placenta
verb
to give support to (someone to do something); help or assist
(transitive) to assist financially
noun
assistance; help; support
a person, device, etc, that helps or assists: a teaching aid
(mountaineering) Also artificial aid. any of various devices such as piton or nut when used as a direct help in the ascent
(in medieval Europe; in England after 1066) a feudal payment made to the king or any lord by his vassals, usually on certain occasions such as the marriage of a daughter or the knighting of an eldest son
(Brit, informal) in aid of, in support of; for the purpose of
combining form
denoting a charitable organization or function that raises money for a cause: Band Aid, Ferryaid
abbreviation
acute infectious disease
artificial insemination (by) donor: former name for Donor Insemination (DI)
n.

1982, acronym formed from acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS cocktail attested by 1997, the thing itself said to have been in use from 1995.
n.

early 15c., “wartime tax,” also “help, support, assistance,” from Old French aide, earlier aiudha “aid, help, assistance” (9c.), from Late Latin adjuta, from fem. past participle of Latin adiuvare (past participle adiutus) “to give help to,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + iuvare “to help” (see adjutant). Meaning “thing by which assistance is given” is recorded from c.1600. Meaning “material help given by one country to another” is from 1940.
v.

c.1400, “to assist, help,” from Old French aidier “help, assistance,” from Latin adiutare, frequentative of adiuvare (past participle adiutus) “give help to” (see adjutant). Related: Aided; aiding.

AIDS (ādz)
n.
A severe immunological disorder caused by HIV, transmitted primarily through venereal routes or by exposure to contaminated blood or blood products, resulting in a defect in cell-mediated immune response manifested by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain rare cancers, especially Kaposi’s sarcoma.

AID abbr.
artificial insemination donor
AIDS
(ādz)
Short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. An infectious disease of the immune system caused by an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is characterized by a decrease in the number of helper T cells, which causes a severe immunodeficiency that leaves the body susceptible to a variety of potentially fatal infections. The virus is transmitted in infected bodily fluids such as semen and blood, as through sexual intercourse, the use of contaminated hypodermic syringes, and placental transfer between mother and fetus. Although a cure or vaccine is not yet available, a number of antiviral drugs can decrease the viral load and subsequent infections in patients with AIDS.
AIDS [(aydz)]

Acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a fatal disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Believed to have originated in Africa, AIDS has become an epidemic, infecting tens of millions of people worldwide. The virus, which is transmitted from one individual to another through the exchange of body fluids (such as blood or semen), attacks white blood cells, thereby causing the body to lose its capacity to ward off infection. As a result, many AIDS patients die of opportunistic infections that strike their debilitated bodies. AIDS first appeared in the United States in 1981, primarily among homosexuals and intravenous drug users who shared needles, but throughout the world, it is also transmitted by heterosexual contact. Today, scientists are hopeful that AIDS can be managed by new drugs, such as protease inhibitors, and need not be fatal. (See AZT.)
jargon
/aydz/ A* Infected Disk Syndrome (“A*” is a glob pattern that matches, but is not limited to, Apple Computer), this condition is quite often the result of practicing unsafe SEX.
See virus, worm, Trojan horse, virgin.
[Jargon File]
(1995-04-13)
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Agency for International Development