A substance added to an immunogenic agent to enhance the production of antibodies. Stedman. [PJC]
A substance added to a formulation of a drug which enhances the effect of the active ingredient. Stedman. [PJC]

adjuvant, a. [L. adjuvans, p. pr. of adjuvare to aid: cf. F. adjuvant. See Aid.].

Helping; helpful; assisting. Howell. [1913 Webster]

adjuvant, n.

An assistant. Yelverton. [1913 Webster]
An ingredient, in a prescription, which aids or modifies the action of the principal ingredient. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

adjuvant, adj. & n.
--adj. helpful, auxiliary.
--n. an adjuvant person or thing.

Etymology

F adjuvant or L adjuvare (as AD-, juvare jut- help)

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THESAURUS

adjuvant

accession, accessory, accompaniment, addenda, addendum, additament, addition, additive, additory, additum, adjunct, alterative, analeptic, ancillary, annex, annexation, appanage, appendage, appendant, appurtenance, appurtenant, assistant, assisting, attachment, augment, augmentation, auxiliary, carminative, coda, collateral, complement, concomitant, continuation, contributory, corollary, corrective, counterirritant, curative, emmenagogue, expectorant, extension, extrapolation, fixture, fostering, healing, helping, hormone, iatric, increase, increment, instrumental, maturative, medicative, medicinal, ministerial, ministering, ministrant, nurtural, nutricial, offshoot, pendant, reinforcement, remedial, restorative, sanative, sanatory, serving, side effect, side issue, subservient, subsidiary, supplement, synergistic, tailpiece, therapeutic, theriac, undergirding, vasodilator, vitamin

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ROGET THESAURUS

adjuvant

Aid

N aid, aidance, assistance, help, opitulation, succor, support, lift, advance, furtherance, promotion, coadjuvancy, patronage, championship, countenance, favor, interest, advocacy, sustentation, subvention, alimentation, nutrition, nourishment, eutrophy, manna in the wilderness, food, means, ministry, ministration, subministration, accommodation, relief, rescue, help at a dead lift, supernatural aid, deus ex machina, supplies, reinforcements, reenforcements, succors, contingents, recruits, support, adjunct, ally, aiding, auxiliary, adjuvant, helpful, coadjuvant, subservient, ministrant, ancillary, accessory, subsidiary, at one's beck, at one's beck and call, friendly, amicable, favorable, propitious, well-disposed, neighborly, obliging, with the aid, by the aid of, on behalf of, in behalf of, in aid of, in the service of, in the name of, in favor of, in furtherance of, on account of, for the sake of, on the part of, non obstante, Int, help!, save us!, to the rescue!, alterum alterius auxilio eget, God befriend us as our cause is just, at your service.

Auxiliary

N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.

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