Word for...?

[hellbraker]

I would like to know a word that means "help at a difficult situation". I just met this word, but i can't recollect it. I looked up this word in Oxford Dictionary which stated the above meaning. I think it starts with P, but i may be wrong. I know its hard, but any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

[Khosro]

I would like to know a word that means "help at a difficult situation". I just met this word, but i can't recollect it. I looked up this word in Oxford Dictionary which stated the above meaning. I think it starts with P, but i may be wrong. I know its hard, but any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

That's not hard for a native speaker hellbraker. Hello, welcome aboard.

[5jj]

That's not hard for a native speaker hellbraker. Hello, welcome aboard.

Well, I had to think long and hard about it. All I could come up with was 'succo(u)r'; that doesn't begin with P, though.

[Khosro]

Well, I had to think long and hard about it. All I could come up with was 'succo(u)r'; that doesn't begin with P, though.

It's not clear if hellbraker means "to get help" or "to give help".

"to get help" could be also "to resort".
"recourse" is a noun which can be used for situations in which somebody gets help.

[5jj]

"to get help" could be also "to resort" or "to recourse".

Could you give examples of those words used in sentences? 'Recourse' is not used as a verb, as far as I know, and 'resort' does not, in itself, appear to have anything to do with 'help'.

[hellbraker]

It's not clear if hellbraker means "to get help" or "to give help".

"to get help" could be also "to resort" or "to recourse".

Thank you so much..its that word..recourse..and the dictionary states as follows.." a source of help in a difficult situation"

And the verb "recourse to" is there too, stating "the use of a particular source of help"

So can i say something like this? -

• 1) My recourse was the lecturer
• 2) I recoursed to the lecturer
• 3) I recoursed to the lecturer for his help

Is the last one right? Should i omit "for his help", as recourse to itself means, to get help.

Thanks again

[5jj]

And the verb "recourse to" is there too, stating "the use of a particular source of help"

Check again. I think you will find that it's given as a noun, used in such expressions as 'serve as a resource to ...'

[hellbraker]

Check again. I think you will find that it's given as a noun, used in such expressions as 'serve as resource to ...'

I must admit my dictionary is quiet old now (2002 Edition). And it doesn't say if its a verb or not. Recourse to is given in brackets..thats all. But, this dictionary has what you said, it puts verb before words that are verbs.

[Khosro]

Thank you so much..its that word..recourse..and the dictionary states as follows.." a source of help in a difficult situation"

And the verb "recourse to" is there too, stating "the use of a particular source of help"

So can i say something like this? -

• 1) My recourse was the lecturer
• 2) I recoursed to the lecturer
• 3) I recoursed to the lecturer for his help
• Is the last one right? Should i omit "for his help", as recourse to itself means, to get help.

Thanks again

Sentences 2 and 3 are absolutely wrong. As fivejedjon wrote "recource" is not a verb. Sentence 1 does not seem right.
"My only recourse was to ask the lecturer" ("only" is common in such sentences with "recource")
But even this sentence of mine is odd. what do you want to say in your first sentence?

Any examples in your dictionary?

See how meriam-webster (online) defines it:

[noncount] : an opportunity or choice to use or do something in order to deal with a problem or situation ▪ His only recourse [=the only thing he can do] is to file a complaint with the management. ▪ She has no legal recourse against the magazine. [=there is no legal action she can take against the magazine] ▪ He had no recourse to legal help. [=he was not able to get legal help] ▪ The dispute was settled without recourse to law.

And Oxford (advanced learners online):

the fact of having to, or being able to, use something that can provide help in a difficult situation
Your only recourse is legal action.She made a complete recovery without recourse to surgery.The government, when necessary, has recourse to the armed forces.


And Macmillan:

the use of something so that you can get what you want or need in a difficult situation
We hope a settlement can be reached without recourse to legal action.

The system allows doctors to have recourse to specialist opinion.


And free online dictionary:

1. The act or an instance of turning or applying to a person or thing for aid or security: have recourse to the courts.
2. One that is turned or applied to for aid or security: His only recourse was the police.

My own dictionary is Macmillan but I don't like it's definition here, it is much restricted.

So it is an "opportunity" and "choice" (webster) but also "a fact of having to" (oxford), and it is not only a "fact of ..." but also "an act of ...".

The second definition in freeonlinedictionary covers webster's definition.

[Rover_KE]

That's not hard for a native speaker hellbraker. Hello, welcome aboard.

I'm still scratching my head about a P-word for this, Khosro.

Do tell.


Rover