rescue

[ res-kyoo ]

verb (used with object)

, res·cued, res·cu·ing.

1. to free or deliver from confinement, danger, or difficulty: She rescued me from an awkward conversation.

   The police were able to rescue the hostages in time.

   She rescued me from an awkward conversation.

   Synonyms: salvage, recover, extricate, ransom, redeem, save, release, liberate, emancipate

2. Law. to liberate or take by forcible or illegal means from lawful custody.

noun

1. the act of rescuing.

   Synonyms: emancipation, redemption, release, deliverance, liberation

2. the act of rescuing animals from danger, abuse, or neglect, as the adoption of stray and abandoned animals from an animal shelter, or the protection of wild animals in an animal sanctuary:

   Animal rescue requires cooperation between animal control agencies and shelters.

3. a group or organization that participates in such animal welfare activities: breed-specific rescues.

   your local rescue;

   breed-specific rescues.

4. a domestic animal adopted from an animal shelter or other animal welfare group:

   Our new puppy is a rescue!

adjective

1. of or relating to someone or something trained or equipped to rescue:

   The county's three certified rescue dogs and their handlers searched for earthquake survivors in the rubble.

2. of or relating to a domestic animal adopted or available for adoption from an animal shelter or other animal welfare group:

   rescue puppies and kittens looking for loving families.

rescue

/ ˈrɛskjuː /

verb

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

noun

1. 1. the act or an instance of rescuing
   2. ( as modifier )

      a rescue party

2. the forcible removal of a person from legal custody
3. law the forcible seizure of goods or property

Derived Forms

• ˈrescuer, noun
• ˈrescuable, adjective

Other Words From

• rescu·a·ble adjective
• rescue·less adjective
• rescu·er noun
• non·rescue noun
• quasi-rescued adjective
• un·rescu·a·ble adjective
• un·rescued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rescue¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb rescuen, from Old French rescourre, equivalent to re- + escourre “to shake, drive out, remove,” from Latin excutere ( ex- + -cutere, combining form of quatere “to shake”); re-, ex- ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rescue¹

C14: rescowen , from Old French rescourre , from re- + escourre to pull away, from Latin excutere to shake off, from quatere to shake

Example Sentences

The Palestinian civil defense in Gaza said in a statement on Wednesday evening that its rescue and emergency crews were trying to extinguish a fire that engulfed the tents of displaced people after the strike.

From New York Times

The search included drones, helicopters, police dogs and search and rescue crews on foot, Ayala said.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 100 people were assisting in the rescue on Wednesday, he added.

From BBC

No-one came to rescue her; she escaped when her captor left the door unlocked.

From BBC

It rescued me because I wouldn’t have had the financial independence, and I wouldn’t have had the support.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• extricate
• free
• keep
• liberate
• preserve
• protect
• recapture
• recover
• release
• retrieve
• salvage