I. ˈsəkə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: see -or
Etymology: Middle English succur, sucur, socur, from earlier sucurs, socours, taken as plural, from Old French secors, sucors, from Medieval Latin succursus, from Latin, past participle of succurrere to run up, run to help
1.
a. : relief from difficulty, want, or distress : aid , help , assistance
b. : something that furnishes relief
religion was their chief succor — Time
c. or succors plural : military assistance in supplies and especially men : reinforcements
can no longer draw succor from this ally — Matthew Arnold
the inconsiderable succors … were easily intercepted — Edward Gibbon
2. chiefly dialect : a sheltered place : a building used as a shelter : refuge
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Usage: see -or
Etymology: Middle English sucuren, soucouren, from Old French secorir, sucurir, from Latin succurrere to run up, run to help, help, from sub- up + currere to run — more at sub- , current
1. : to go to the aid of (one in difficulty, want, or distress) : help ; specifically : to provide with reinforcements or supplies : relieve
an escort vessel … sent to succor four vessels … under attack by submarine — E.L.Beach
2. : to cure, alleviate, or mitigate
attempts to succor the various distresses of these people — Jerome Stone
3. chiefly dialect : to provide a shelter for