Succor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Succored; p. pr. & vb. n. Succoring.]
Etymology: [OE. socouren, OF. sucurre, soucourre, secorre, F. secourir, L. succurrere, succursum, to run under, run to the aid of, help, succor; sub under + currere to run. See Current.]
tiono run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve; as, to succor a besieged city. [Written also succour.] He is able to succor them that are tempted. Heb. ii. 18.
Syn. -- To aid; assist; relieve; deliver; help; comfort.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Succor, n.
1. Aid; help; assistance; esp., assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want, or distress. "We beseech mercy and succor." Chaucer. My noble father . . . Flying for succor to his servant Bannister. Shak.
2. The person or thing that brings relief. This mighty succor, which made glad the foe. Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for succor; he lists it under help.
Where he writes about it:
Encourage refers to mental aid, as uphold now usually does; succor and support, oftenest to material assistance. — from help
We encourage the timid or despondent, succor the endangered, support the weak, uphold those who else might be shaken or cast down. — from help