Middle English Dictionary Entry
socǒurs n.
Entry Info
| Forms | socǒurs n. Also socoures, socourse, socurs & succours(e, sucures, succurse, (early) suc(c)urs, sukurs, souccours & secours, secors & (errors) surcourse, suturs. |
| Etymology | OF secors, secours, socors(e, AF socurs, sucurs; cp. ML succursus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. socour n.
1.
(a) Aid, assistance, help; support, encouragement; also, divine help, spiritual aid; (b) relief, alleviation of a state or condition, remedy; (c) sustenance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)125/7 : Inwarde & meadlese & ancrefule bonen biwinneð sone sucurs & help ed ure lauerd aȝeines flesches fondunges.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)150/13 : Rung up sture þe, hald up ehnen on heh & honden toward heouene; Gred efter sucurs [Pep: socours; Nero: sukurs; Cai: succurs].
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)136 : Bot..Thai waken crist and askes socoures Wit orisoun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1354 : But to Pandare alwey was his recours..And hym bisoughte of reed and som socours.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1341 : Withouten his socours [vr. socourse], Twenty tyme yswouned hath she thanne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3163 : Lesyngmongers fond that tyme no socours.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)847 : I can no mor but aske of hem socours At whos request you wer mad in þis wyse.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2660 : Ther gouernours And magnates..Whan that thei fond among hem no socours To remedien ther gret aduersite, Fill to accord of necessite.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.426 : To helle they wenten alle..Tyl that the flowr Of Alle floures Gan Owt to springe for Owre socours.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1087 : Thus muste Flaundres..have unite And pease wyth us..Wythine shorte while, and ambassiatours Wolde bene here sone to trete for ther socours.
c
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)88/6 : Have a determynat place withyn the host stuffed with vitaill to the surcourse [read: succourse] and comfort of all the host.
2.
Military assistance, military relief; coll. military reinforcements.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)120/11 : Hwa se is siker of sucurs [Cleo: suturs] þet him schal cume sone, & ȝelt tah up his castel to his wiðeriwines, swiðe he is to edwiten.
- (1419) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)82/14 : We haue writen to al our frendes and allies þorwe Cristendom, for to haue socours and help of hem, ayeins þe same tyme þat our sayd broþer shal declare you.
- (1421) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.161 : They been sent by the King, to the Persones abovesaid, aswell as to hym, for to have Souccours of Men.
- (1421) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.162 : The King..trusteth, with Succurse of his Allies and Freinds, to have good and hasty end, and..prayeth hem..to yeve him Succurse and help, and..they shall..ask..what Succourse they will yeve the Kyng.
- (1421) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)84/21 : We arriued..to thentente for to haue yeuen secours..vnto the saide toun of Chartres, and hider comme vnto us oure brother of Burgoigne with a faire felaship, for to haue goon with us to the saide secours.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2192 : Juon Gore..is here under arrest for his fals reporte that he made oute of Englande to the pouple here, that no succours shol be had from thens.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.226 : Hit is ful necessarie in alle haste to see for secors and þat with oute delay to þe boþe contreys.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5166 : Haþ now þe kyng nede of my socurs?
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)44.537 : The Kyng..beheld..how Nasciens hym bar, and In what Manere and sweche socoures As he there Made.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)139/4 : The thirdde knyght was..sent furthe to the socours [F secours] of a cite with a felawshipp of men of armes.
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)268 : The kyng prayeth..for an aide of men, vitaille, and shippes for þe relief and socours of Burdeaux.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)48/30 : Robert steuenesson was beseget yn hys castell..&..come socours by the þryd day.
3.
(a) Protection, refuge; of ~, affording protection; (b) a helper, protector.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9909 : Bailles has þis castel thre..For-þi þat nede has o socurs þider i red yee ma your curs.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1951 : Hector on hem so pleyeth þe lyon Þat to her tentes þei fled for socours.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)160 : Three hundrid and eyȝte and fourti toures Weren on the walle of stronge socoures.
b
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)40 : To ihesus ihc wil clepe þat he be mi sucures.