Definition

1. Noun:

   • Assistance or aid given in a time of difficulty or distress: "Succour" refers to help that relieves suffering or hardship.
   • (Archaic, plural) Reinforcements or relieving troops: In historical contexts, "succours" could mean troops sent to relieve a besieged force.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To give assistance or relief to someone in difficulty: To "succour" someone is to help them when they are in trouble or distress.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The charity provided succour to the refugees. (The charity provided aid to the refugees.)
  • In the darkest hour, they prayed for succour. (In the darkest hour, they prayed for help.)

• Verb:

  • The villagers succoured the wounded soldiers. (The villagers helped the wounded soldiers.)
  • He was succoured by a kind stranger. (He was aided by a kind stranger.)

Advanced Usage

• "To bring succour to": To deliver aid or relief to a person or place.

  • The medical team brought succour to the disaster zone. (The medical team delivered aid to the disaster zone.)

• "To be in need of succour": To require help or relief.

  • The stranded climbers were in desperate need of succour. (The stranded climbers were in desperate need of help.)

Variants and Related Words

• Succor: The standard American English spelling of "succour". The definitions are identical.

  • They offered succor to the victims. (They offered aid to the victims.)

• Succourer (noun): One who provides succour.

  • She was known as a succourer of the poor. (She was known as a helper of the poor.)

Synonyms

• Aid: Help, typically of a practical nature.
• Relief: Assistance, especially following a disaster.
• Assistance: The action of helping someone.
• Comfort: Consolation or relief in distress.

Antonyms

• Hindrance: A thing that provides resistance or obstruction.
• Neglect: The state of being uncared for.
• Abandonment: The action of leaving someone without help.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A source of succour": A person or thing that provides consistent help or comfort.

  • Her faith was a constant source of succour during her illness. (Her faith was a constant source of comfort during her illness.)

• "To fly to the succour of": To go quickly to help someone (a somewhat literary phrase).

  • The knight flew to the succour of the besieged castle. (The knight went quickly to help the besieged castle.)

Noun

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

Verb

1. help in a difficult situation