succor

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noun suc·cor \ˈsə-kər\

Definition of succor

1 : relief; also : aid, help
2 : something that furnishes relief

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succor was our Word of the Day on 06/12/2007. Hear the podcast!

Examples of succor in a Sentence

We see it as our duty to give succor to those in need.

Recent Examples of succor from the Web

Our doctrine is succor, compassion, love, gentleness.

— kathryn jean lopez, National Review, "Calvary, The Donald, and Hope," 10 July 2017
Llamas comfort hospital patients, pooches provide succor at disaster sites and horses are used to treat sex addiction.

— karin brulliard, chicagotribune.com, "Therapy animals are everywhere, but proof that they help is not," 3 July 2017
Llamas comfort hospital patients, pooches provide succor at disaster sites and horses are used to treat sex addiction.

— danielle dreilinger, NOLA.com, "Coast Guard evacuates a Carnival cruise ship passenger," 2 July 2017
Llamas comfort hospital patients, pooches provide succor at disaster sites and horses are used to treat sex addiction.

— karin brulliard, Alaska Dispatch News, "Therapy animals are everywhere, but proof that they help is not," 2 July 2017
Llamas comfort hospital patients, pooches provide succor at disaster sites and horses are used to treat sex addiction.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Therapy animals are increasingly common, but do they help?," 2 July 2017
Llamas comfort hospital patients, pooches provide succor at disaster sites and horses are used to treat sex addiction.

— karin brulliard, Washington Post, "Therapy animals are everywhere. Proof that they help is not.," 2 July 2017
Who would have thought that a poet could have offered succor on a day like this?

— ed caesar, The New Yorker, "At a Vigil, Manchester Gets the Poem It Needs," 23 May 2017
In the case of the fidget spinner, the temporary victory of joining in the commentary also offers succor.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Fidget Spinner Explains the World," 12 May 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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of succor

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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First Known Use: 13th century

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