01 n. The state of suffering; the bearing of pain; endurance.
-
1.
The state of suffering; the bearing of pain; endurance.“He must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance.” — Shak.
-
2.
Pain endured; misery; suffering; distress.“The seeming sufferances that you had borne.” — Shak.
-
3.
Loss; damage; injury.[Obs.]“A grievous . . . sufferance on most part of their fleet.” — Shak.
-
4.
Submission under difficult or oppressive circumstances; patience; moderation.“But hasty heat tempering with sufferance wise.” — Spenser.
-
5.
Negative consent by not forbidding or hindering; toleration; permission; allowance; leave.“In their beginning they are weak and wan, But soon, through sufferance, grow to fearful end.” — Spenser.“Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favor, they erected to themselves oratories.” — Hooker.
-
6.
A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods.[Eng.]
Phrases & compounds
Estate of sufferance —
the holding by a tenant who came in by a lawful title, but remains, after his right has expired, without positive leave of the owner.
On sufferance —
by mere toleration; as, to remain in a house on sufferance.
Syn.
Endurance; pain; misery; inconvenience; patience; moderation; toleration; permission.