Post History
I have never heard of "to raise (someone) out of trouble"! What does this mean? relieve (v.) [on Etymonline] late 14c., releven, "alleviate (pain, etc.) wholly or partly, mitigate; afford comfo...
Question
etymology
#1: Initial revision
What does Etymonline mean by 'to raise (someone) out of trouble'?
I have never heard of "**to raise (someone) out of trouble**"! What does this mean? >### relieve (v.) [[on Etymonline]](https://www.etymonline.com/word/relieve#etymonline_v_10379 "Origin and meaning of relieve") > >late 14c., *releven*, "alleviate (pain, etc.) wholly or partly, mitigate; afford comfort; allow respite; diminish the pressure of," also "give alms to, provide for;" also figuratively, "take heart, cheer up;" from Old French *relever* "to raise, relieve" (11c.) and directly from Latin *relevare* "to raise, alleviate, lift up, free from a burden," from *re-*, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see [re-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/re-?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of re- ")), \+ *levare* "to lift up, lighten," from *levis* "not heavy" (from PIE root [\*legwh-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*legwh-?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of *legwh- ") "not heavy, having little weight"). > >**The notion is "to raise (someone) out of trouble." [my emboldening]** From c. 1400 as "advance to the rescue in battle, bring help to a besieged place;" also "return from battle; recall (troops)." Meaning "release from duty" is from early 15c. Related: relieved; relieving. I can surmise merely one meaning — medical professionals lifting or raising a patient. But I have no clue if medical professionals — if they existed in the 14th century — raised patients like in the pictures below!    [Top picture](https://www.jems.com/patient-care/patient-lifting-and-moving-whose-job-is-it/). [Middle](https://www.jems.com/operations/fresh-perspectives-on-safer-patient-lifting-and-moving/). [Bottom](https://www.nextdayaccess.com/patient-lifts-can-create-a-safer-environment/)