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Added 9 October 2026

rescue

/ˈɹɛs.kjuː/ verb

In Latin: ademptio, redemptura, redemptiō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rescue at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To save from any violence, danger or evil.
The well-trained team rescued everyone after the avalanche.
To free or liberate from confinement or other physical restraint.
to rescue a prisoner from the enemy
To recover forcibly, especially from a siege.

noun

An act or episode of rescuing, saving.
A liberation, freeing.
The act of unlawfully freeing a person, or confiscated goods, from custody.

Origin

From Middle English rescouen, from Old French rescoure, rescurre, rescorre; from Latin prefix re- (“re-”) + excutere (“to shake or drive out”), from ex (“out”) + quatiō (“to shake”). Displaced native Old English nerian.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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