succor

especially British, suc·cour

[suhk-er]

noun

1. help; relief; aid; assistance.

   Synonyms: support

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

verb (used with object)

1. to help or relieve.

   Synonyms: support

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• succorable adjective
• succorer noun
• nonsuccor noun
• unsuccorable adjective
• unsuccored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of succor¹

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

Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

But late Tuesday night a district judge in Western Pennsylvania did give them some succor.

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Some conservatives who’ve embraced Trump’s demagoguery have turned to religion for cover and perhaps succor, if not salvation.

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Some conservatives who've embraced Trump’s demagoguery have turned to religion for cover and perhaps succor, if not salvation.

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Give L.A. the succor it needs, while you still have time.

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Seeking succor when the world seems to be closing in on you is a quintessentially human habit.

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Related Words

• sustenance