Did you know?
If you're in need of an explanation of the origins of "succor," we can help. Middle English speakers adapted "socour," the predecessor of "succor," from the Anglo-French sucors, which essentially had the same meaning as our modern word. "Sucors," in turn, derives from the Medieval Latin succursus, itself a derivative of the Latin verb succurrere, meaning "to run to the rescue or "to bring aid." That Latin verb was a composite of the prefix sub- (meaning "from below") and the verb "currere" (meaning "to run"). "Succor" has been saving the day in English (as both a noun and a verb) since at least the 13th century.
Examples of succor in a Sentence
Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023
The Death Star succors, energizes, feeds, clothes, medicates, houses, warms, and cools us with its throbbing complexity—woe to the planets in the way of its progress.
—Christopher Ketcham, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023
In addition to providing spiritual succor to those on strike, many rabbis have also joined the picket line themselves.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
This place of succor is an extensive archaeological site now, and there is an ancient theater set right in the middle of it.
—Teju Cole, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
At the root of such succor are Europe’s more than encouraging box-office admissions, which saw a marked uptick in late 2022 and have continued to rise into the new year.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 18 June 2023
So sometimes the traveler is asked whence will come their succor.
—WSJ, 22 Nov. 2022
Over the years, Mr. Lukashenko has performed a balancing act with his foreign policy, playing the West off against Russia in an effort to preserve his independence while extracting economic succor from both.
—New York Times, 9 Aug. 2021
Then there’s the mental succor.
—Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2020
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023
The world’s inability or unwillingness to displace an unreconstructed Qaddafi would give succor to a number of groups, including al-Qaeda, that could seize chaos in Libya and North Africa as an opportunity to extend their influence.
—Dirk Vandewalle, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2011
Organizations that succored Israel’s powerful pro-democracy movement this year, while also recognized for innovative humanitarian work outside Israel, quickly shifted to helping fellow citizens at a moment of excruciating loss.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023
By seeking succor from regulators, Microsoft is acknowledging the limits of AI’s powers as a panacea—a timely warning that the hoards of startups, venture capital firms, and established companies betting huge sums on AI makeovers would do well to take to heart.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2023
Butterflies whose prairies have been devoured by cornfields find succor in unkempt strips of roadside milkweed.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, astonishing acts of love — acts for which there are really no words — transformed lives, offered succor to those facing death and began to break down stigma.
—Washington Post, 11 May 2023
Riot Noir, its Black RIG, often gives succor to the company’s partnership with South Los Angeles’ technology and entrepreneurship center, exposing Black and Brown students to a career in gaming.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2023
Trump’s venting may have been a kind of self-medication, succor after a day of unaccustomed humility and painful humiliation.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'succor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
Middle English socour, sucurs (taken as plural), from Anglo-French sucur, sucors, from Medieval Latin succursus, from Latin succurrere to run to the rescue, bring aid, from sub- + currere to run — more at car
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Podcast
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!
Dictionary Entries Near succor
Cite this Entry
“Succor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succor. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
succor
1 of 2 noun
succor
2 of 2 verb
More from Merriam-Webster on succor
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for succor
Nglish: Translation of succor for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of succor for Arabic Speakers
Share