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succor

 - 3 dictionary results

suc⋅cor

  [suhk-er]
Use succor in a Sentence
–noun
1. help; relief; aid; assistance.
2. a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc.
–verb (used with object)
3. to help or relieve.
Also, especially British, succour.

Origin:
1250–1300; (v.) ME sucuren < OF suc(c)urre, socorre < L succurrere to go beneath, run to help, equiv. to suc- suc- + currere to run (see current ); (n.) ME soc(o)ur, back formation from sucurs (taken as pl.) < OF < ML succursus, equiv. to L succur(rere) + -sus, var of -tus suffix of v. action

Related forms:
suc⋅cor⋅a⋅ble, adjective
suc⋅cor⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1, 3. support. 3. See help.

Usage note:
See -or 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To succor
suc·cor   (sŭk'ər)   
n.  

  1. Assistance in time of distress; relief.

  2. One that affords assistance or relief.

tr.v.   suc·cored, suc·cor·ing, suc·cors
To give assistance to in time of want, difficulty, or distress. See Synonyms at help.

[Middle English sucur, back-formation from sucurs (taken as pl.), from Old French secors, from Medieval Latin succursus, from past participle of Latin succurrere, to run to the aid of : sub-, sub- + currere, to run; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]
suc'cor·a·ble adj., suc'cor·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

succor 
c.1225, from Anglo-Fr. succors "help, aid," O.Fr. sucurres, from M.L. succursus "help, assistance," from pp. of L. succurrere "run to help," from sub "up to" + currere "to run" (see current). Final -s mistaken as a plural inflexion and dropped c.1290.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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