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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Succour, v. Also: succoure, succor, succur(e, suckour, socour, shecur. P.t. also souccourit. P.p. also succerrit, succured, secours(i)t. [ME and e.m.E. sucur (c1250), socur (Cursor M.), socoure (Manning), sucker (1526), succor (a1548), succoure (1548-9), OF sucurre, secorre, secourre (1080, c1155 and 13th c. in Larousse), later secourir (c1460 in Larousse), L. succurrere.]

1. tr. To help, aid, assist (a person). Also reflex., and transf.pres. 1375 Barb. vii 69.
And for he wald his lord succour, He put his lif in auentur c1420 Wynt. v 1116.
But help off thé, That dettyde is to succoure me c1420 Wynt. vii 3625.
Cryst … Succoure Scotland and remede That stad [is in] perplexyte 14.. Burgh Laws c. 100 (A).
The fader schawis his mekill mistar to the sonne & the sone will nocht succor his fader a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1092.
How may I succour thé sound, semely in sale c1475 Wall. xi 1127.
Sen gud Wallace may succour thé no mar 1606 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 58.
That … nane … sall … ressait succour … hous or hald intertein gif counsell … or mak moyen … to the said … fugitiwes(b) a1400 Leg. S. xv 14.
To sic honour he callit Paule To safe & succur syndry sawle a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1475, etc.
Succure 1490 Irland Mir. I 22/17. 1513 Doug. ix v 150.
That desolat wight to succur schaw thi cuyr(c) 1456 Hay I 111/7.
To socour … the lele subjectis of the empyre that he wald usurp apon 1456 Hay I 148/33.
Quharfore sen I am, be the lawe, maist behaldin to socour myn awin thing(d) 15.. Clar. i 988.
Suckour(e) 1671 Highland P. I 335.
Bind himself … to assist shecur and defend the said Jhonp.t. a1500 Seven S. 2594.
The child thai succurit hastely And had him with thaim sovnde & hale a1568 Bann. MS 29b/19.
[God] ws his seruandis succurit sone Out of the herbry of Mahounp.p. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2714.
Thow hes thee schawin ane nobill cunning clark, The innocent hes succourit throw thy taillreflex. c1475 Wall. iii 204.
The Inglismen … On horsis some, to strenthis part, can found To socour thaim, with mony werkand woundtransf. ?1438 Alex. ii 10475.
And ioyis amouris that succouris ay All thame that leuis in his lay ?1438 Alex. ii 4760.
My help had me auailȝeit nocht Na war the auld mannis bounte That … souccourit me c1475 Wall. xi 646.
Rostyt flesche … als breid and cheis To succour thaim that was in poynt to leis c1490 Porteous Noblenes 55 (Ch. & M.).
Larges releuis and succuris a man and scarsnes interditis nobilite 1549 Compl. 4/14.
His magnanyme heroique ande martial entreprise, vas conuoyit & succurrit be ane diuyne miracle

b. To save, rescue. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 293.
That I suld succure this towne Fra the felny of this dragone c1420 Wynt. vii 1098.
Kyng Stevynnys wyff, For till succoure hyr lordys lyff Sa fast scho travalyd c1420 Wynt. viii 1996.
Twelff lordis thar thai chesyd … The rewme to succoure … That bwndyn ware wyth faythfull band To succoure the fredwme off Scotland a1500 Rauf C. 744.
‘God forbot,’ he said, ‘my thank war sic thing To him that succourit my lyfe in sa euill ane nicht!’ c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xlvi 45.
The luve of God … That him of nocht wrocht lyk his awin figour, And deit him self fro deid him to succour a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 346.
Sir James was … shot … straitlie invaydit to have bene slayne out of hand, geve he had not bene fortunatlie secoursit be the prowes of a gentilman callit Capten Lockart

c. To support, give backing to (a plot). 1618 Lithgow Poet. Remains 45.
My foes strange plottes, was neu'r so strong secourst, But eft-soones I their force and terrour broke

2. To supply with military assistance, bring reinforcements to; to relieve (a besieged place). Also absol. and intr.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 255, etc.
Bot gif he succour ws in hy, All dede in Gaderis mon we ly ?1438 Alex. ii 2671.
Throw strang men ar men succured in feild 1549 Compl. 174/35.
[Hasdrubal] vas … cumand our the Alpes of Ytalie vitht ane grit armye to succur his brothir Annibal(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 1212.
To gyff hym wyt … how to succoure that cyte Mast redy helpe war, or defens 1513 Doug. ii vi 96.
Invayn ȝe pres to succur this cite 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 31a.
I … maid me fortherwartis to suckour and supple the cuntre c1615 Chron. Kings 17.
Succerritabsol. ?1438 Alex. i 1754.
Agane thay prikkit in that stour To help Philot and to succour ?1438 Alex. ii 1278.
He schalit and thirllit the mekill stour, to help his eme and to succourintr. 1375 Barb. xvii 631.
Schyr Walter … With armyt men suld rid about And se quhar that thar war mast dout And succour thar with his menȝe