succor

[ suhk-er ]
/ ˈsʌk ər /

noun

help; relief; aid; assistance.
a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc.

verb (used with object)

to help or relieve.
Also especially British, suc·cour.

Origin of succor

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English sucuren < Old French suc(c)urre, socorre < Latin succurrere to go beneath, run to help, equivalent to suc- suc- + currere to run (see current); (noun) Middle English soc(o)ur, back formation from sucurs (taken as plural) < Old French < Medieval Latin succursus, equivalent to Latin succur(rere) + -sus, var of -tus suffix of v. action

SYNONYMS FOR succor

1, 3 support.
3 See help.

usage note for succor

See -or1.

OTHER WORDS FROM succor

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH succor

succor sucker

Words nearby succor

succinic acid, succinylcholine, succinylcholine chloride, succinylcoenzyme a, succise, succor, succorance, succorrhea, succory, succotash, succoth

Example sentences from the Web for succour

British Dictionary definitions for succour

succour

US succor

/ (ˈsʌkə) /

noun

help or assistance, esp in time of difficulty
a person or thing that provides help

verb

(tr) to give aid to

Derived forms of succour

succourable or US succorable, adjective succourer or US succorer, noun succourless or US succorless, adjective

Word Origin for succour

C13: from Old French sucurir, from Latin succurrere to hurry to help, from sub- under + currere to run