'assister' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'assistere', where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'sistere' meant 'to stand'.

'assister' changed from Old French 'assister' and Middle English 'assisten' and eventually became the modern English noun 'assister' (plural 'assisters').

Initially, it meant 'to stand by' or 'to be present', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to help or give assistance'; the noun now denotes a person who assists.