Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Discuss
Email this
Feedback
RSS/XML
Permalink

A.Word.A.Day--succor

Pronunciation RealAudio

This week's theme: Uncommon homophones of common words

succor or succour (SUK-uhr)

noun: 1. Help or relief in time of distress. 2. One who gives help.
verb tr.: To help someone in a difficult situation.

[Via Middle English and French from Latin succurrere (to run to help). Ultimately from Indo-European root kers- (to run) that's also the source of car, career, carpenter, occur, discharge, and caricature.]

"Just as Kipling's man-cub found succor with an improbable mother, so too were the seeds of his tale sown in unlikely ground: the rocky hills of rural Vermont."
Carolyn Juris; Mowgli, the Man-cub From Wild Vermont; The San Francisco Chronicle; Oct 23, 2005.

See more usage examples of succor in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

X-Bonus

Worth begets in base minds, envy; in great souls, emulation. -Henry Fielding, author (1707-1754)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith