legup Act of assistance Support, say, University being included in historic record Head start Horse-mounting help Give a __ (assist) Assistance, with "a" ... and literal assistance in solving the four longest answers Assistance, with "a" Advantage, informally Mounter's assist Advantage, so to speak Slight advantage, so to speak Starting advantage Boost, and a hint to four of this puzzle's answers Helping hand, paradoxically Give a ___ (boost)