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succour

/ˈsʌkə/ noun

Latin root: succursus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about succour at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Assistance in time of difficulty.
    the contributions provided some relief for the victims

verb

  1. Help in a difficult situation.

Origin

The noun is derived from Middle English socour, interpreted as the singular form of socours (“help; encouragement; remedy; protection; helper, protector”), which is from Anglo-Norman socurs, sucurs and Old French secors, secours (modern French secours), from Medieval Latin succursus (participle), from Latin succurrēre (“to run to the help of”), from Latin sub- (“from below”) + Latin currere (“run”). The verb is derived from Middle English socouren (“to help”), from Anglo-Norman socure (compare modern French secourir), also from Latin succurrēre.

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