succor
C2Formal, literary, archaic in everyday use
Definition
Meaning
assistance or relief in times of hardship or distress
To provide aid, support, or comfort to someone in need, often in difficult or desperate circumstances. Also, the aid or support itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a connotation of urgent or desperately needed help. In modern usage, it is somewhat elevated and tends to appear in historical, literary, or formal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'succour' is standard in British English; 'succor' is standard in American English. The word is rare in contemporary spoken English in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly literary/archaic. May sound dated or deliberately formal. More likely to be encountered in historical novels, religious texts, or formal declarations than in casual conversation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Higher relative frequency in historical/religious texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
V + succor + to + NP (provide succor to the refugees)V + succor + for + NP (seek succor for her soul)NP + succor + from + NP (find succor from his friends)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “angel of succor”
- “a succor in the storm”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Possibly in metaphorical CSR contexts: 'The foundation provides succor to communities in crisis.'
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or theological studies: 'The narrative explores themes of divine succor and human suffering.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Would sound very formal or old-fashioned.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside of specific historical analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The beleaguered garrison awaited succour from the king.
- They found succour in the monastery after their shipwreck.
American English
- The refugees were in dire need of succor.
- Her kindness provided the only succor in his grief.
verb
British English
- The knights vowed to succour the oppressed villagers.
- No one came to succour them in their hour of need.
American English
- Charities worked to succor the victims of the famine.
- He felt a duty to succor the weak.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Red Cross provides succor to people after disasters.
- In the old tale, the fairy godmother offered succor to the poor orphan.
- The treaty promised mutual succor in case of an invasion.
- The beleaguered city, cut off from all supply lines, desperately sought succor from its allies.
- His faith provided him with spiritual succor during his long illness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SUCCor' sounds like 'suck-er' - but it's the opposite: a 'SUCKER' (naive person) might need SUCCOR (help). Remember the 'CC' as in 'accident' - you give succor after an accident.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCOR IS A LIFE-GIVING SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'provide succor', 'succor sustained them'); SUCCOR IS SHELTER FROM A STORM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Do not confuse with Russian 'суккуб' (succubus).
- The core meaning is closer to 'помощь' (pomoshch') or 'поддержка' (podderzhka), specifically in distress.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sucker' or 'succour' (US) / 'succor' (UK).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'help' or 'aid' is more appropriate.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ˈsuːkɔːr/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'succor' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a formal, literary, or somewhat archaic word. In everyday conversation, 'help', 'aid', or 'assistance' are far more common.
British English spells it 'succour'. American English spells it 'succor'.
Yes, but it is even less common than the noun form. It means 'to give assistance to in times of hardship'.
It strongly implies help given in a time of urgent need, distress, or difficulty, often carrying a slightly dramatic or elevated tone.
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