Gives help (4)
I believe the answer is:
aids
'gives help' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for aids that I've seen before include "Said to be a dread modern disease" , "Said to be an international disease" , "Said to be a modern plague" , "Comes to the rescue" , "Helps with a dread disease" .)