different between succour vs cheer

English

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English socour [and other forms], which was erroneously treated as the singular form of socours (“aid, assistance, help; encouragement; support; remedy, relief; sustenance; military assistance or relief; protection, refuge; helper; protector”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman socurs, sucurs, and Old French secors, secours, socors, socorse (compare Anglo-Norman soccour, socur, succour, succur, variants of Old French secor; modern French secours (“aid, assistance, help”)), from Medieval Latin succursus (“act of succouring”), from Latin succurr?re, from succurr? (“to run to the aid of; to aid, help; to go under, run beneath; to undergo”), from sub- (prefix meaning ‘beneath, under’) + curr? (“to run; to hasten, hurry; to move, proceed, travel; to traverse”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *?ers- (“to run”)). The English word is cognate with Italian soccorso (“aid, assistance, help, succour”).

The verb is derived from Middle English socouren (“to aid, assist, help; to provide for one's needs, maintain, support; to assuage, relieve, remedy; to comfort; to provide military assistance; to rescue, save; to give refuge or shelter to; to defend, protect”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman socure [and other forms] (compare Middle French secourir, Old French succurir, sucurir (“to rescue; to remedy”); modern French secourir (“to help out; to succour”)), from Latin succurr?re; see further above. The English word is cognate with Italian soccorrere (“to assist, help”), Occitan secorrer, socorre, Portuguese socorrer (“to help, succour; to rescue”), Spanish socorrer (“to aid, assist, help, succour; to pay on account”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s?k?/
• (General American) enPR: s?k?r, IPA^(key): /?s?k?/
• Homophone: sucker
• Hyphenation: suc?cour

Noun

succour (countable and uncountable, plural succours) (British spelling)

1. (uncountable) Aid, assistance, or relief given to one in distress; ministration.
2. (uncountable, military) Aid or assistance in the form of military equipment and soldiers, especially reinforcements sent to support military action.
3. (uncountable, obsolete except dialectal) Protection, refuge, shelter; (countable) a place providing such protection, refuge or shelter.

Alternative forms

• succor (American spelling)

Derived terms

• succourless, succorless (American spelling)
• unsuccoured, unsuccored (American spelling)

Translations

Verb

succour (third-person singular simple present succours, present participle succouring, simple past and past participle succoured) (British spelling)

1. (transitive) To give aid, assistance, or help.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:help

   Antonyms: see Thesaurus:hurt
2. (transitive, military) To provide aid or assistance in the form of military equipment and soldiers; in particular, for helping a place under siege.
3. (transitive, obsolete except dialectal) To protect, to shelter; to provide a refuge.

Conjugation

Alternative forms

• succor (American spelling)

Derived terms

• succourer, succorer (American spelling)

Translations

References

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t????(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /t??i?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Etymology 1

From Middle English chere, from Old French chere, from Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara.

Noun

cheer (countable and uncountable, plural cheers)

1. (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood. [from 14^thc.]
2. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment.
3. A cry expressing joy, approval or support such as "hurray". [from 18^thc.]
4. A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
5. (Canada, US) Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.

6. (obsolete) One's facial expression or countenance. [13^th-19^thc.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.7:

     ‘thorough evill rest of this last night, / Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; / That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.’

7. (archaic) One's attitude, mood. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark VI:

     And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere, it is I, be not afrayed.

   • 1600, Philemon Holland, The Romane Historie

     The parents […] fled away with heavy cheer.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:applause

Derived terms

• Bronx cheer

Translations

Verb

cheer (third-person singular simple present cheers, present participle cheering, simple past and past participle cheered)

1. (transitive) To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.

   We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.

2. (transitive) To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.

   • The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd.

3. (transitive, intransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.

   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.

   The crowd cheered the athletes.

Antonyms

• boo

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Clipping of cheerleading.

Noun

cheer (uncountable)

1. Cheerleading.
   • 1999, Jim Lord and Chris Calvert. Cheerleading: Where Does Your Gym Fit In?.

     ...[P]erspective [sic] gym cheer programs must address how to support a cheer program while maintaining appropriate and safe skill progressions.

   • 2000, Linda Villarosa. Cheerleading Changes, and Injuries Increase in The New York Times.

     Last year, more than 75,000 high school participants took part in cheerleading competitions, and the National Federation of State High School Associations says that "competitive cheer" is the fastest growing sport for girls.

   • 2018, Chad Thompson. Iowa Central cheer team is tops at national competition in The Messenger.

     The Iowa Central Community College cheer team has achieved something no other college in Iowa has before.

Anagrams

• Erech, reech