succour
UK /ˈsʌkə/ · US /ˈsʌkɚ/ noun, verb
Forms succours succouring succoured succourest succouredst succoureth succor
- noun (uncountable) Aid, assistance, or relief given to one in distress; ministration.
- noun (uncountable, military) Aid or assistance in the form of military equipment and soldiers, especially reinforcements sent to support military action.
- noun (uncountable, obsolete except dialectal) Protection, refuge, shelter; (countable) a place providing such protection, refuge or shelter.
- verb (transitive) To give aid, assistance, or help.
- verb (transitive, military) To provide aid or assistance in the form of military equipment and soldiers; in particular, for helping a place under siege.
- verb (transitive, obsolete except dialectal) To protect, to shelter; to provide a refuge.
Synonyms
abet aid assist befriend bestead minister come to someone's aid give someone a hand grip help help out lend a hand lend a helping hand mend stead succor support sustain relieve relief ministration
Antonyms
ache afflict aggrieve agonize anguish dere excruciate hurt irritate pang pine rack
Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English socour, interpreted as the singular form of socours (“help; encouragement; remedy; protection; helper, protector”), which is from Anglo-Norman socurs, sucurs and Old French secors, secours (modern French secours), from Medieval Latin succursus (participle), from Latin succurrēre (“to run to the help of”), from Latin sub- (“from below”) + Latin currere (“run”).
The verb is derived from Middle English socouren (“to help”), from Anglo-Norman socure (compare modern French secourir), also from Latin succurrēre.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “succour”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details