handholder

• hand-holder

From hand +‎ holder.

handholder (plural handholders)

1. One who holds hands (with someone else).
   • 1952, Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of Dorothy Day, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, →LCCN, page 35:

     We were never handholders. We were always withdrawn and alone, unlike Italians, Poles, Jews, and other friends I had who were fresh and spontaneous in their affection.

   • 1967, Darrah Dunham Wunder, “The Senator From Ohio”, in 70 Most Unforgettable Characters: From Reader’s Digest, The Reader’s Digest Association, →LCCN, page 358:

     They preferred each other’s company to any other in the world. They were old-fashioned and unashamed handholders.

   • 2012, Joy Dettman, Wind in the Wires, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 28:

     Jenny hadn’t been a natural hugger, but she’d been a smiler, a handholder.

2. Someone or something that provides reassurance and/or assistance for doing something difficult.
   • 1991, James Fleming, Circles of Power: The Most Influential People in Canada, Doubleday Canada, →ISBN, page 104:

     In the meantime, Bouchard will continue to play his role as handholder and benefactor to his province and peacemaker for the country.

   • 1999 June, Popular Mechanics, page 34:

     This software has a great help program. For starters, there’s a collection of fully narrated video tutorials that show you step by step how to perform various tasks. There’s also built-in voice and video help. As you become more familiar with the program, you can turn these handholders off.

   • 2000, Richard E[lliott] Neustadt, edited by Charles O. Jones, Preparing to Be President: The Memos of Richard E. Neustadt, Washington, D.C.: The AEI Press, →ISBN, page 84:

     With Hopkins as a most reliable assistant, Eisenhower’s staff secretary has not been overly burdened by the paper-processing and administrative service aspects of his job. Dutton would not be overly burdened either. He could easily take on whatever agenda-making and decision-recording you wish for cabinet meetings. He also could have time to serve as one of your “handholders” for heads of agencies with operating inquiries and troubles which appear too petty (or too premature) to bring to you.

• hand-hold