succor

[ suhk-er ]

/ ˈsʌk ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR succor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

help; relief; aid; assistance.

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

verb (used with object)

to help or relieve.

Nearby words

succinite, succinylcholine, succinylcholine chloride, succinylcoenzyme a, succise, succor, succorance, succorrhea, succory, succos, succotash

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR succor ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

suc·cor·a·ble, adjectivesuc·cor·er, nounnon·suc·cor, nounun·suc·cor·a·ble, adjective

un·suc·cored, adjective

Can be confusedsuccor sucker

Usage note

See -or¹.

Examples from the Web for succor

Such attention comes too late to offer any succor or comfort to the families, friends, and co-workers mourning the dead.
Now Is Not the Time for New Gun Laws|Nick Gillespie|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And if it is to truly heal, Palestinians and Israelis must make of the scar a source of succor, not fear.
On Yom Kippur, Remember My Palestinian Mother|Samer Badawi|September 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The human soul is an ocean tossed by storms of passion, deep and bottomless in its need for succor and nourishment.
The Old Man and the Sea|David Farr|April 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In contrast, a mammalian infant depends on the separation cry for succor and security.
Why Do We Cry?|Michael Trimble|January 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Here's the platform the new Washington can succor: We want good schools, but don't fire bad teachers.
Give the People What They Want|Leslie H. Gelb|October 31, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The help and succor he received, as often before, seemed Providential.
Ole Bull|Sara C. Bull
Remember and succor us in our distress, and think on them that lie exposed to the 58 rough storms of troubles and temptations.
Prayers of the Early Church|Various
For the moment, therefore, he could do nothing more but look for succor.
Foes in Ambush|Charles King
The guard, amazed, rushed forward to succor their fallen leader.
Life and adventures of Frank and Jesse James|J. A. Dacus
Succor him if you can; preserve him from what is worse than death.
Atlantic Classics, Second Series|Henry C. Merwin

Word Origin and History for succor

succor

early 13c., from Anglo-French succors "help, aid," Old French sucurres, from Medieval Latin succursus "help, assistance," from past participle of Latin succurrere "run to help," from sub "up to" + currere "to run" (see current (adj.)). Final -s mistaken as a plural inflexion and dropped late 13c.

succor

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of succor

Usage note

Examples from the Web for succor

Word Origin and History for succor

succor