14 September 2013

succour

[suhk-er]

noun

1. help; relief; aid; assistance.
2. a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc.
verb (used with object)
3. to help or relieve.
Also, especially British, suc·cour.

Origin:
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English sucuren < Old French suc ( c ) urre, socorre < Latin succurrere to go beneath, run to help, equivalent to suc- suc- + currere to run (see current); (noun) Middle English soc ( o ) ur, back formation from sucurs (taken as plural) < Old French < Medieval Latin succursus, equivalent to Latin succur ( rere ) + -sus, var of -tus suffix of v. action

Related forms
suc·cor·a·ble, adjective
suc·cor·er, noun
non·suc·cor, noun
un·suc·cor·a·ble, adjective
un·suc·cored, adjective

Can be confused: succor, sucker.

Synonyms
1, 3. support. 3. See help.

Today’s aphorism

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

― Friedrich Nietzsche

On this day

14 September 1752 – the British Empire commences using the Gregorian calendar instead of the Julian calendar. To balance the calendar, the 10 days from 3 September to 13 September are written off. This is because the Gregorian claimed the annual cycle was 365.2425 days. The Julian calendar was based on 365.25 days per year, hence the leap year every 4 years to make up the 0.25 days each year.

14 September 1812 – Fire of Moscow – French troops under the command of Napoleon defeat Russian troops in the Battle of Borodino and invade Moscow. Count Fyodor Rostopchin orders Russian citizens to destroy the Kremlin and other major buildings as they retreat. The fires burn for 4 days and destroy around 75% of Moscow.

14 September 1983 – birth of Amy Winehouse. English singer-songwriter. Died 23 July 2011.