The word "saviour" is spelled with the letters S-A-V-I-O-U-R, and is pronounced /ˈseɪviə(r)/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The letter U in the suffix "-our" is a distinct feature of British English spelling, while American English spells the word as "savior" without the "u". In both spellings, the stress is on the second syllable, making the 'a' and 'i' short vowels. "Saviour" refers to a person who saves or rescues someone from harm or danger, often used in a religious context.
A saviour is a person, deity, or force that rescues, delivers, or saves individuals or a community from harm, danger, or distress. The term "saviour" is derived from the word "save," emphasizing its role in preserving or providing salvation. It typically refers to someone who offers redemption, protection, or relief to others, often in a critical or desperate situation.
In religious contexts, a saviour is often associated with divine figures, such as Jesus Christ in Christianity or Buddha in Buddhism, who are believed to have sacrificed themselves or provided spiritual salvation to humanity. These saviours are regarded as divine messengers or avatars, sent to guide and deliver people from their sins or suffering.
However, the concept of a saviour is not limited to religious contexts. In more secular terms, a saviour can be an individual who helps others in times of crisis or distress, demonstrating heroic or selfless qualities. For example, a firefighter who rescues people from a burning building or a doctor who saves lives through medical interventions can also be considered saviours.
Overall, a saviour is someone who is seen as enabling salvation, deliverance, or rescue from harm, adversity, or despair, whether in a religious, spiritual, or worldly sense. The term conveys a sense of hope, reliance, and faith in the ability of an external force or individual to provide relief or sanctuary.
One who saves; a title of Christ Jesus, He who saves the world.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word savior originated from the Old French word sauveur, which can be traced back to the Latin word salvator. Salvator is derived from the verb salvare, which means to save or to rescue. Ultimately, this Latin verb is derived from the noun salus, meaning health or safety.