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succor

[suhk-er]
noun
  1. help; relief; aid; assistance.
  2. a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to help or relieve.
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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
Related formssuc·cor·a·ble, adjectivesuc·cor·er, nounnon·suc·cor, nounun·suc·cor·a·ble, adjectiveun·suc·cored, adjective
Can be confusedsuccor sucker

Synonyms

1, 3. support. 3. See help.

Usage note

See -or1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for succoured

Historical Examples

  • Hierax was a benevolent person who succoured a race hated by Poseidon.

    Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1

    Andrew Lang

  • I have failed others in the past whom I might have succoured.

    The Romance of His Life

    Mary Cholmondeley

  • It is true she succoured me when I was in sore need in Magdeburg.

    The Mercenary

    W. J. Eccott

  • The Spaniards had some pity, and succoured them with food on the way.

  • And then the weak who had to be succoured was so pretty, so charming, so sweet!

Word Origin and History for succoured

succor

n.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper