The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word AIDS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
I
D
S
More clues leading to the result AIDS
- Like hoarding papers that are helpful
- Is Diana extremely suspicious? Does help
- It’s said to produce a killer disease
- Helps in case of serious disease
- Helps head of Airstrip One kick stuffing out of dissidents
- Excellent detective gives assistance
- They’ll help angler in Deeside spectacle, initially
- Helps to make incursions, demolishing front
- In these times, one is overwhelmed — son helps
- Helps head off attacks
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "gives assistance" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case gives assistance = aids.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does AIDS mean?
AIDS noun- Help; assistance; succor, relief.
- A helper; an assistant.
- Something which helps; a material source of help.
- An historical subsidy granted to the crown by Parliament for an extraordinary purpose, such as a war effort.
- An exchequer loan.
- A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his feudal lord on special occasions.
- An aide-de-camp, so called by abbreviation.
- To provide support to; to further the progress of; to help; to assist.
- To climb with the use of aids such as pitons.