--- includes/common.inc
+++ includes/common.inc
@@ -5441,6 +5441,9 @@ function drupal_common_theme() {
     'item_list' => array(
       'variables' => array('items' => array(), 'title' => NULL, 'type' => 'ul', 'attributes' => array()),
     ),
+    'definition_list' => array(
+      'variables' => array('items' => array(), 'title' => NULL, 'attributes' => array()),
+    ),
     'more_help_link' => array(
       'variables' => array('url' => NULL),
     ),
--- includes/theme.inc
+++ includes/theme.inc
@@ -1958,6 +1958,82 @@ function theme_item_list($variables) {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Return a themed list of definition items.
+ * @param $variables
+ *   An associative array containing:
+ *   - items: An array of items ($key => $value) to be displayed in the
+ *     definition list. Key $key is used as definition term. Value $value is
+ *     used for the definition. If $value is a string, it is used as is.
+ *     If $value is an array, the items of that array are used as multiple
+ *     definitions for the term. If $value is an array it can contain special
+ *     items: 'term' for overriding the $key as definition term, 'attributes'
+ *     for adding special attributes to the dt element. Other items of $value
+ *     can be strings or arrays. In case of an array the following fields are
+ *     used: 'data' as definition, 'attributes' for extra attributes of the dd
+ *     element, 'children' for a nested definition list.
+ *   - title: The title of the definition list.
+ *   - attributes: The attributes applied to the definition list element.
+ * @return
+ *   A string containing the definition list output.
+ */
+function theme_definition_list($variables) {
+  $items = $variables['items'];
+  $title = $variables['title'];
+  $attributes = $variables['attributes'];
+
+  $output = '<div class="definition-list">';
+  if (isset($title)) {
+    $output .= '<h3>'. $title .'</h3>';
+  }
+
+  if (!empty($items)) {
+    $output .= '<dl' . drupal_attributes($attributes) . '>';
+    foreach ($items as $term => $item) {
+      // get definition(s) and attributes for current term (and possibly an override for the term)
+      $definitions = array();
+      $attributes = array();
+      if (is_array($item)) {
+        foreach ($item as $key => $value) {
+          if ($key === 'term') {
+            $term = $value;
+          }
+          elseif ($key === 'attributes') {
+            $attributes = $value;
+          }
+          else {
+            $definitions[] = $value;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      else {
+        $definitions[] = $item;
+      }
+      // output definition term
+      $output .= '<dt' . drupal_attributes($attributes) .'>'. $term .'</dt>';
+      // iterate over definition(s)
+      foreach ($definitions as $definition) {
+        if (is_array($definition)) {
+          // complex definition item: get data, attributes and children
+          $data = $definition['data'];
+          $attributes = (array)($definition['attributes']);
+          if (isset($definition['children'])) {
+            $data .= theme_definition_list($definition['children'], NULL, $attributes);
+          }
+          $output .= '<dd'. drupal_attributes($attributes) .'>' . $data .'</dd>';
+        }
+        else {
+          // simple definition item
+          $output .= '<dd>' . $definition .'</dd>';
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    $output .= '</dl>';
+  }
+  $output .= '</div>';
+  return $output;
+}
+
+/**
  * Returns code that emits the 'more help'-link.
  */
 function theme_more_help_link($variables) {
--- modules/node/node.module
+++ modules/node/node.module
@@ -84,18 +84,14 @@ function node_help($path, $arg) {
       $output .= '<h3>' . t('About') . '</h3>';
       $output .= '<p>' . t('The Node module manages the creation, editing, deletion, settings, and display of all site content. For more information, see the online handbook entry for <a href="@node">Node module</a>.', array('@node' => 'http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/node')) . '</p>';
       $output .= '<h3>' . t('Uses') . '</h3>';
-      $output .= '<dl>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating content') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('When new content is created, the Node module records basic information about the content, including the author, date of creation, and the <a href="@content-type">Content type</a>. It also manages the <em>publishing options</em>, which define whether or not the content is published, promoted to the front page of the site, and/or sticky at the top of content lists. Default settings can be configured for each <a href="@content-type">type of content</a> on your site.', array('@content-type' => url('admin/structure/types'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating custom content types') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module gives users with the <em>Administer content types</em> permission the ability to <a href="@content-new">create new content types</a> in addition to the default ones already configured. Creating custom content types allows you the flexibility to add <a href="@field">fields</a> and configure default settings that suit the differing needs of various site content.', array('@content-new' => url('admin/structure/types/add'), '@field' => url('admin/help/field'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Administering content') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The <a href="@content">Content administration page</a> allows you to review and bulk manage your site content.', array('@content' => url('admin/content'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating revisions') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module also enables you to create multiple versions of any content, and revert to older versions using the <em>Revision information</em> settings.') . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('User permissions') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module makes a number of permissions available for each content type, which can be set by role on the <a href="@permissions">permissions page</a>.', array('@permissions' => url('admin/settings/permissions'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '</dl>'; 
+      $items = array(
+        t('Creating content') => t('When new content is created, the Node module records basic information about the content, including the author, date of creation, and the <a href="@content-type">Content type</a>. It also manages the <em>publishing options</em>, which define whether or not the content is published, promoted to the front page of the site, and/or sticky at the top of content lists. Default settings can be configured for each <a href="@content-type">type of content</a> on your site.', array('@content-type' => url('admin/structure/types'))),
+        t('Creating custom content types') => t('The Node module gives users with the <em>Administer content types</em> permission the ability to <a href="@content-new">create new content types</a> in addition to the default ones already configured. Creating custom content types allows you the flexibility to add <a href="@field">fields</a> and configure default settings that suit the differing needs of various site content.', array('@content-new' => url('admin/structure/types/add'), '@field' => url('admin/help/field'))),
+        t('Administering content') => t('The <a href="@content">Content administration page</a> allows you to review and bulk manage your site content.', array('@content' => url('admin/content'))),
+        t('Creating revisions') => t('The Node module also enables you to create multiple versions of any content, and revert to older versions using the <em>Revision information</em> settings.'),
+        t('User permissions') => t('The Node module makes a number of permissions available for each content type, which can be set by role on the <a href="@permissions">permissions page</a>.', array('@permissions' => url('admin/settings/permissions'))),
+      );
+      $output .= theme('definition_list', array('items' => $items));
       return $output;
 
     case 'admin/content':