Rescue
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈrÉ›s.kjuË/
Origin
From Middle English rescopuen, from Old French rescoure, rescurre, rescorre; from Latin prefix re- ("re-") + excuto ("to shake or drive out"), from ex ("out") + quato ("I shake").
Full definition of rescue
Verb
transitive- To save from any violence, danger or evil.''The well-trained team rescued everyone after the avalanche
- To free or liberate from confinement or other physical restraint.to rescue a prisoner from the enemy
- To recover forcibly
- To deliver by arms, notably from a siege
- (figuratively) To remove or withdraw from a state of exposure to evil and sin.Traditionally missionaries aim to rescue many ignorant heathen souls.
- 2011, September 13, Sam Lyon, Borussia Dortmund 1 - 1 Arsenal, Arsenal's hopes of starting their Champions League campaign with an away win were dashed when substitute Ivan Perisic's superb late volley rescued a point for Borussia Dortmund.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- (all senses) abandon, ignore
- (to save from violence, danger or evil) endanger, imperil
- (to free from confinement) enslave, incarcerate
- (to free from restraint) bind, constrict, hamper, inhibit, obstruct, preclude
- (to recover forcibly) kidnap
- (to deliver by arms) arrest, capture
- (to rescue from evil or sin) corrupt, deprave
Related terms
Noun
rescue
(plural rescues)- An act or episode of rescuing, saving.
- A liberation, freeing.
- The forcible ending of a siege; liberation from similar military peril''The rescue of Jerusalem was the original motive of the Crusaders
- A special airliner flight to bring home passengers who are stranded
- A rescuee.The dog proved a rescue with some behavior issues.
Usage notes
Often used attributively as an adjective, e.g. "rescue equipment".