Succurrere

Succurrere is a Latin verb meaning to run to someone’s aid, to help, or to supply relief; in English, it yields the verb succor in its noun form and the verb to succor or succour. The core sense is to come to a person’s aid quickly, often in response to distress or danger. The action is typically expressed with the dative of the person aided (alicui succurrere) or with a phrase indicating the circumstance.

Etymology and usage: The form is built from sub- ‘under’ or to aid and currō ‘to run,’ conveying the image of running to someone’s side to provide assistance. In classical Latin, succurrere appears in military, legal, and narrative contexts as a straightforward verb of assistance. The concept also extended figuratively to supplying relief or support in non-physical senses. The word has contributed to English through medieval and early modern texts via the borrowed form succor/succour, which retains the same core meaning of assistance or relief.

Forms and notes: succurrere is typically treated as a regular verb of the third conjugation in many grammars, with principal parts commonly listed as succurrō, succurrere, succurrī, succursum. It is used with direct subjects who perform the action and with indirect objects in the dative to indicate the recipient of aid. Examples in Latin illustrate phrases such as ille illi succurrit, “he runs to his aid for him,” or ego illi succurrō, “I aid him.”

See also: adiuvare (to help), iuvāre (to aid or please), Latin verbs of assistance.