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
Noun
We see it as our duty to give succor to those in need.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Israel has no viable alternative to the succor of the United States.—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 29 Dec. 2023 But, where much of today’s trendy work is self-involved, Brown’s dances bring succor to the audience.—The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024
Verb
Nor would feeding the world’s hungry or succoring the afflicted.—Andrew J. Bacevich, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 And reservists and organizations that succored Israel’s powerful pro-democracy movement this year quickly shifted to helping fellow citizens at a moment of excruciating loss.—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for succor
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
Etymology
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
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