succor

[suhk-er] /ˈsʌk ər/
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.) 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 forms
succorable, adjective
succorer, noun
nonsuccor, noun
unsuccorable, adjective
unsuccored, adjective
Can be confused
succor, sucker.
Synonyms
1, 3. support. 3. See help.
Usage note
See -or1.
Examples from the web for succor
  • And he offered emotional succor long after the amorous flame had waned--not to mention demanding the same support for himself.
British Dictionary definitions for succor

succour

/ˈsʌkə/
noun
1.
help or assistance, esp in time of difficulty
2.
a person or thing that provides help
verb
3.
(transitive) to give aid to
Derived Forms
succourable, (US) succorable, adjective
succourer, (US) succorer, noun
succourless, (US) succorless, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French sucurir, from Latin succurrere to hurry to help, from sub- under + currere to run
Word Origin and History for 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.