rescue

[ res-kyoo ]
/ ˈrɛs kyu /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rescue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), res·cued, res·cu·ing.

to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil.
Law. to liberate or take by forcible or illegal means from lawful custody.

noun

the act of rescuing.

adjective

of or relating to someone or something trained or equipped to rescue: a rescue dog.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of rescue

1300–50; (v.) Middle English rescuen < Old French rescourre, equivalent to re- re- + escourre to shake, drive out, remove < Latin excutere (ex- ex-1 + -cutere, combining form of quatere to shake); (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM rescue

Words nearby rescue

rescind, rescissible, rescission, rescissory, rescript, rescue, rescue dog, rescue grass, rescue mission, reseal, research
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to rescue

delivery, salvage, recovery, relief, preserve, protect, retrieve, liberate, extricate, keep, free, release, recover, recapture, ransom, saving, redemption, feat, reclamation, heroism

Example sentences from the Web for rescue

British Dictionary definitions for rescue

rescue
/ (ˈrɛskjuː) /

verb -cues, -cuing or -cued (tr)

to bring (someone or something) out of danger, attack, harm, etc; deliver or save
to free (a person) from legal custody by force
law to seize (goods or property) by force

noun

  1. the act or an instance of rescuing
  2. (as modifier)a rescue party
the forcible removal of a person from legal custody
law the forcible seizure of goods or property

Derived forms of rescue

rescuable, adjectiverescuer, noun

Word Origin for rescue

C14: rescowen, from Old French rescourre, from re- + escourre to pull away, from Latin excutere to shake off, from quatere to shake
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012