succor

noun

suc·cor | \ ˈsə-kər

Definition of succor

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : relief also : aid, help

2 : something that furnishes relief

succor

verb

succored; succoring\ ˈsə-k(ə-)riŋ

Definition of succor (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to go to the aid of : relieve

Other Words from succor Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about succor

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Did You Know?

Noun

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

But women did more than succor the sick and wounded. — Brenda Wineapple, The New Republic, "Who wrote women out of Civil War history?," 16 Aug. 2019 Not even the annual wage of $30,000 is succor for the daily monotony of working alone writing manuals for a telecommunications company in North Carolina. — Aimee Lewis, CNN, "Jill Ellis: The shy girl from England who became US Soccer's record-breaking head coach," 5 July 2019 But there are fans who really do get some succor from that rhetoric. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Black Mirror’s Miley Cyrus Episode Isn’t That Far-Fetched," 6 June 2019 Total physical contact was essential to receive the succor offered. — C.d. Wright, Harper's magazine, "Life’s a Beech," 10 Jan. 2019 So sometimes the traveler is asked whence will come their succor. — WSJ, "And the Fair Land," 21 Nov. 2018 But what if there is scant succor to be had, and our true natures are not noble but necrotic, pestilential? — Constance Grady, Vox, "Elite library sorters race to process books in cutthroat competition," 17 Nov. 2018 The scrunchy elastic-tabbed back flexes to succor heels. — Lauren Ingram, WSJ, "These Are the Most Comfortable Work Heels," 20 Sep. 2018 But one academic links the desire to travel with warm beverages back to humans’ earliest needs for warmth and succor. — Nancy A. Nichols, The Atlantic, "Cupholders Are Everywhere," 22 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Their research may even lead to innovations in antimicrobial properties that can succor in the imminent fearsome post-antibiotic era. — Prayan Pokharel, Smithsonian, "How Insect Poop Could Solve All Our Problems," 17 Aug. 2017 That philosophy has succored me through breakups, deaths and career reversals. — Leonard Pitts Jr, The Mercury News, "Pitts: The Great Trumpkin rises from the Trumpkin patch," 19 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'succor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.