a. [a. OF. so-, sucurable, etc., chiefly active, rarely passive (mod.F. secourable), f. secourir to SUCCOUR: see -ABLE, Cf. It. soccorrevole.]
1. Affording succour, helpful, Obs. exc. arch.
c. 1400. Ragman Roll, 175, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 76. Releuer to the pore, and socourabill Ben ye.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 128. Oure lady marie … softned hire dere sons ire with hire sucurable prayere.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 50 b. I think well that fortune hath ben socourable to the noble lady.
1591. Sparry, trans. Cattan’s Geomancie, 153. Good friendes and succorable.
1615. Cleaver, Explar. Prov., 434. The goodnes of God which is very succourable.
1619. Times Store-House, 780/2. Perceiuing him [sc. a physician] not so succourable, as hee desireth or would haue.
1620. Thomas, Lat. Dict., Auxiliaris … succourable.
c. 1765. Flloyd, Tartarian T. (1785), 61/2. Succourable Fairy,… furnish me … with means.
1880. Browning, Dram. Idyls, Pan & Luna, 34. What help? When, lo, A succourable cloud with sleep lay dense.
2. Capable of being helped or relieved. rare.
1654. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Wars Flanders, 77. But the Town being munited, and at all times succorable, and he having but a few men with him, he could not doe it.
