sufferv.
/ˈsʌfə/, U.S. /ˈsəfər/ I. To undergo, endure.† 5. transitive. To submit patiently to. Obsolete.† 6. intransitive. To endure, hold out, wait patiently. (Often with abide, bide.) to suffer long: to be long-suffering. Obsolete.† 7. transitive. To resist the weight, stress, or painfulness of; to endure, bear, stand. Obsolete exc. dialect.absolute.1615 G. Markham Eng. House-wife (1668) ii. i. 15 Drink thereof morning and evening as hot as you can suffer.
1. transitive. To have (something painful, distressing, or injurious) inflicted or imposed upon one; to submit to with pain, distress, or grief.
a. pain, death, punishment, †judgement; hardship, disaster; grief, †sorrow, care.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
abeareOE
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
bidec1200
suffera1250
abidec1275
drinka1340
endure1340
underfong1382
receivec1384
abyea1393
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
get?c1430
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
a dog's lifea1528
tolerate1531
to stand to ——1540
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
to stand under ——a1616
to fall a victim to1764
the mind > emotion > suffering > suffer mental pain [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
takec1175
bidec1200
suffera1250
leadc1330
drinka1340
endure1340
wielda1375
underfong1382
receivec1384
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
tolerate1531
to go through ——1535
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
the world > life > death > [verb (transitive)] > submit to or allow death
suffera1250
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > suffer pain [verb (transitive)]
acorea1200
suffera1250
get?c1430
insuffer1488
sensea1669
suffer1796
rax1898
society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)] > submit to or receive punishment
underliec960
suffera1250
coupc1300
payc1384
get?a1513
drink1677
to take out1910
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 123 Þenc oðe attrie pinen ðet god suffrede oðe rode.
c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 27 He..þet diath solde suffri for man-ken.
c1374 G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 167 Þe helle Which sufferith faire Anelyda þe Quene.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde v. 415 This knowen folk þat han y-suffred peyne.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 195 Of me no maner charge it is What sorwe I soffre.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 7 I..suffre such a Passion, That men have gret compassion.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4050 Ioseph..þat was þe chast and þat gentil þat siþen sufferd sa fele peril.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 718 Such domez, Þat þe wykked & þe worþy schal on wrake suffer.
1482 Monk of Evesham 67 The greuys peyne of that same stenche ys more intollerable..than any other peynys that synners sofryn.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 2 Cor. xi. 25 I suffered thryse shipwracke.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lxxiiijv He suffered the lyke punyshment.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxviii. 163 If a subject shall..deny the authority of the Representative of the Common-wealth,.. he may lawfully be made to suffer whatsoever the Representative will.
1676 Charge in Office of Clerk of Assize 102 The offender shall suffer Imprisonment for a year.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. ii. 32 All which we enjoy, and a great Part of what we suffer, is put in our own Power.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 166 Every one who does wrong is to suffer punishment by way of admonition.
1903 J. H. Matthews Mass & Folklore 113 The names of those Romans who had suffered martyrdom prior to the..final settlement of the Canon.
b. wrong, injury, loss, shame, disgrace.
ΚΠ
c1275 Laȝamon Brut 24854 Ne solle hii in londe soffri none sconde.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 381 Strong thing it is to soffre wrong, And suffre schame is more strong.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10394 Iesu crist..for vs sufferd gret despite.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) Pref. 1 He sufferd many reprufes and scornes.
c1450 Godstow Reg. 176 For her expenses & harmys þat they sofred by the occasyon of þe seyde rent not I payde in þe tyme I-sette.
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlviij/1 The most greuous sorous losses..that he hath suffred.
1640 in J. Nicholson Minute Bk. War Comm. Covenanters Kirkcudbright 3 Nov. (1855) 76 Besyde the disgrace that our nation sufferis throw thair goeing naked in a strange countrie.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 175 Men..whose minds had been exasperated by many injuries and insults suffered at the hands of the Roundheads.
1891 Law Rep.: Weekly Notes 25 Apr. 79/2 The defendant contended that the plaintiff had suffered no loss.
1912 Times 19 Oct. 7/3 Montenegro..has suffered some eclipse of her first flush of enthusiasm.
c. bodily injury or discomfort, a blow, wound, disease. archaic.
ΚΠ
a1300 Cursor Mundi 25490 Iesus, þat wald..suffer..Boffetes on þi soft chin.
c1330 King of Tars 57 Crist ur saveour, That soffrede woundes fyve.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 554 We..Þat suffred han þe dayez hete.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 1 The forsaid sir Adam..suffrand fistulam in ano.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 33 Þoo woundis whech þi son souered in his body.
1539 Bible (Great) Ps. xxxiv. 10 The lyons do lacke, and suffre hunger.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 28 The woundes which I suffered long agoe.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 90 For feare that hee should suffer thirst.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 26 I suffered much cold that Night, though I had on my Capot.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. xiv. 359 Complaints in the bowels and stomach, suffered by himself and his monks.
2. To go or pass through, be subjected to, undergo, experience (now usually something evil or painful).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience
feelOE
seeOE
passa1325
provec1330
attastec1374
wielda1375
tastec1380
sufferc1390
to pass through ——c1400
expert?a1475
traverse1477
experiment1484
savour1509
to taste of1526
to go through ——1535
sustain1575
approve1578
try1578
experience1588
undergo1600
to run through ——1602
pree1806
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > specifically of a person > something undesirable
sufferc1390
reachc1429
make1453
to get the works1928
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. xi. 113 From hennes to soffre-Boþe-weole-and-wo.
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles Prol. 36 Mekely to suffre what so him sente were.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15563 Bot sal we elles suffre samen, bath soft and sare.
c1420 J. Lydgate Assembly of Gods 1638 What may worse be suffryd than ouer mykyll weele?
a1500 St. Margaret 62 in Brome Bk. 109 How they syffyryd wyll and woo And how thye dede ther merty[r]dam take.
1530 J. Rastell New Bk. Purgatory i. v. sig. a5 Ease & pleasure doth comforte the nature of that thyng whych suffereth that ease and pleasure.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 426 And, for each body, acts, or suffers ought, Hauing made Nownes, his Verbes he also wrought.
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 70 Whensoever they seem to effect any thing, we shall find that they suffer it long before.
1663 S. Tuke Adventures of Five Hours iv. i W' had better suffer than deserve our fate.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. iv. 69 Here they suffered a siege.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 28 Three more..suffered the same fate.
3.
a. intransitive. To undergo or submit to pain, punishment, or death.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [verb (intransitive)] > receive punishment
shendc897
drinka1340
sufferc1380
to kiss the roda1586
to pay for——a1593
to give, get goss1840
to come in for it1841
to cop it1884
c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 65 We shulden maken us redy to suffre in oure body for þe name of Crist.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20280 He wel i suffer o na care.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 156 He feled neuere lisse ne lith, Þerfore hym þouȝte beter legles Þen so to suffre þer-wyþ.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 940 Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde To soffer inne sor for manez sake.
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. lxii. 144 Suffre paciently, if þou can not suffre ioingly.
1546 Bp. S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles 38 S. Paule sayth, he suffreth for the electes that they myght be salued.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Confirmacion f. x* Jesus Christ..whiche..Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 118 We suffer'd for no want of any thing.
a1721 M. Prior Dialogues of Dead (1907) 258 Every Man is obliged to suffer for what is right, as to oppose what is Unjust.
1772 W. Williams in Bk. Praise (1863) 244 In Thy Presence we can conquer, We can suffer, we can die.
1841 W. M. Thackeray Great Hoggarty Diamond ix Gracious Heavens!..a lady of your rank to suffer in this way!
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxviii. 239 He suffered hugely on the voyage, during which the ladies were likewise prostrate.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. vii. 227 It was a hard thing to suffer for an opinion; but there are times when opinions are as dangerous as acts.
1889 Sat. Rev. 9 Feb. 145/2 A brave man suffers in silence.
1905 C. G. Hartley Weaver's Shuttle 268 The child who moves restlessly when suffering.
b. from or (now rare) under a disease or ailment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)]
sicka1150
langernc1440
aila1500
peak1580
languisha1616
suffer1800
underfunction1941
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 3 422 She had suffered much from disease.
1836 C. Dickens Let. ?15 Nov. (1965) I. 195 I..am still suffering under..a head-ache.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lv. 498 It was only one of Mrs. Wenham's headaches which prevented us—she suffers under them a good deal.
1884 M. Mackenzie Man. Dis. Throat & Nose II. 176 He had suffered from delirium tremens.
1898 F. Montgomery Tony 10 She was suffering from what she was pleased to call a fit of depression.
4. To be the object of an action, be acted upon, be passive. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > exert operative influence [verb (intransitive)] > be acted upon
sufferc1374
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) v. met. iv. 167 Yif þe þriuyng soule..ne doþ no þing by hys propre moeuynges, but suffriþ.
1577 Vicary's Profitable Treat. Anat. sig. M.iiiv So that eche of them [sc. man's and woman's seed in generation] worketh in other, and suffereth in other.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. x. 166 The Elements haue power and force to do, whereas matter hath abilitie but onely to suffer or to be wrought vppon.
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 15 These principles are called Elements, of which Air and Fire have a faculty to move and effect; the other parts, Water and Earth to suffer.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 158 Fall'n Cherube, to be weak is miserable Doing or Suffering . View more context for this quotation
a1831 J. Stoddart Gram. in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) I. 5/1 In language, a verb is a word which signifies to do, or to suffer, as well as to be.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)]
takec1175
dure1297
suffer1297
eata1382
to take in patiencec1385
to take awortha1387
endure1477
to go through ——1535
pocket1589
to sit down1589
hack1936
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7281 Some..sofrede as hii noȝt ne miȝte al þe oþeres wille.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Pet. ii. 19 If..ony man suffrith [L. sustinet] sorewes, or heuynesses, suffringe [L. patiens] vniustly.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 71 Wher as sche soffreth al his wille, As sche which wende noght misdo.
a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 29103 To luke if þai in gude life lend, And suffers what he will þam send.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > wait, await [verb (intransitive)] > patiently
sufferc1380
to hang on1939
to wait it out1956
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > be patient [verb (intransitive)] > be long-suffering
sufferc1380
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 808 Firumbras was hard, & suffrede wel þoȝ hit him greuede sare.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iv. 18 Sette my Sadel vppon Soffre-til-I-seo-my-tyme.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 731 Of alle þe vertues þat þer beone, To suffre, hit is a þing of prys.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 19 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 256 Þou bidis & sufferis, til þat we thru repentance wil turne to þe.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin x. 165 Marganors..badde hem suffre and a-bide, while thei myght, for to socour theire peple.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clxxii. 209 He was sore displeased therwith, and suffred tyll he herde howe they were put to their raunsome.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. xiii. 4 Love suffreth longe, and is corteous.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. ii. 4 Suffre in heuynesse, and be pacient in thy trouble.
1563 B. Googe Eglogs Epytaphes & Sonettes sig. D.ii God..suffers long, reuengyng slow.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > adhere constantly or steadfastly to [verb (transitive)] > endure without giving way
tholec1175
suffera1387
outbear1530
to fight out1548
sustain1573
stand1575
hold1592
to stand out1600
to bide out1637
to stand for ——1896
tough1974
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > resist > resist weight, stress, or pain
suffera1387
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > resist > maintain resistance against
to stand before ——OE
bearOE
tholec1175
sustainc1330
last1340
suffera1387
support1483
outstand1571
hold1592
to hold outa1616
ridea1649
brunt1800
to stand up to1921
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 217 Whan þei myȝte nouȝt in þe holy day suffre on hire piliouns and here cappes for hete.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Exod. xviii. 18 The werk is aboue thi strengthis, thou aloone maist not suffre it.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) viii. 29 That they shold charge them with suche tributes that they myght not suffre.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Nj Children can suffre muche cold.
1592 W. West Symbolæogr.: 1st Pt. §102 b Any such corrasiue..medicine..as the said H. shal think his nature is vnable to suffer or abide.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 146 Some [Persians]..can suffer short wide stockings of English cloth or Kersies.
1640 T. Brugis Marrow of Physicke ii. 140 Let the pan be no hotter than you can suffer your hand on it.
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 70 These Waters [sc. Baths of Aken]..are very easie to suffer.
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) ii. vii. 253 If one cannot tell how to suffer a Tooth-ach, Head-ach, or the pain of the Collick.
8. To be affected by, subjected to, undergo (an operation or process, esp. of change). Now only as transferred of 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action
fallc1175
receivec1330
to stand upon ——a1393
suffera1425
to come under ——a1475
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 31 If it be nede for to chaufe it more for þe terebentyne, loke þat it suffre noȝt mych hete.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 80 Þe membrez..may noȝt withstande to þe strength of þe vitriol; and so þai suffre liquefaccion of it.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 403 Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a Sea-change Into something rich, & strange. View more context for this quotation
1659 J. Pearson Expos. Creed (1839) 361 He suffered a true and proper dissolution at his death.
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. 51 Their goods should be put under sicker Burrows,..under which they must remain ay and while they suffer an Assize.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 80 Bodies void of aqueous humidity can neither suffer fermentation nor putrefaction.
1787 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 89 The conveyance of the treaty itself is suffering a delay here at present.
1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 158 The very language of France has suffered considerable alterations since you were conversant in French books.
1816 S. W. Singer Researches Hist. Playing Cards 33 Bullet allows this explanation to be very plausible, but says it suffers some very material difficulties.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics i. 12 Let rays AM, AD, AN,..fall upon the mirror at the points M, D, and N, and suffer reflexion at these points.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xvii. 319 Along these lines the marginal ice suffers the greatest strain.
1877 T. H. Huxley Physiography xix. 318 The figure of the ship suffers a change.
9. † b. To be killed or destroyed. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To undergo the extreme penalty; to be put to death, be executed. Now rare in literary use except of martyrdom.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > execute [verb (intransitive)] > be put to death
to die the death1535
suffer1570
to have or get one's gruel1797
to take one's gruel1898
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1972/2 (margin) The chief dispatcher of al Gods Sainctes that suffered in Q. Maries time.
1581 W. Allen Apol. Two Eng. Colleges f. 87v England can not lacke Albans, whose Protomartyr being of that name..suffered..to saue his Christian guest.
1638 T. Nabbes Covent Garden iv. vi. 58 The Gentlewomen will not see us hang'd. Ralph. But they may suffer us, and that's a word for hanging.]
1652 J. Lamont Diary (1830) 46 He was..sent to Stirling..wher he was appointed to suffer, and was executed there.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1649 (1955) II. 556 Sir John Owen newly freed from Sentence of Death among the Lords that Sufferd.
1752 Miss Blandy's Own Acc. 63 Miss Blandy suffered in a black Bombazine short Sack and Petticoat, with a clean white Handerchief drawn over her Face.
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 109 She is a witch that should have been burned with them that suffered at Haddington.
1827 P. Cunningham Two Years New S. Wales II. xxxi. 292 ‘I have received a letter since, acquainting me that he has suffered.’ ‘Suffered!..dear me, what has he suffered?’ ‘He has been hanged, sir.’
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) xv. 238 Several of his adversaries were condemned to death, and suffered accordingly.
1877 J. Morris Troubles Catholic Forefathers 3rd Ser. 38 (note) Edward Transham or Stransham,..suffered at Tyburn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (intransitive)] > be killed
to be deadc1000
fallOE
spilla1300
suffera1616
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) toa1774
to lose the number of one's mess1807
to go up1825
to get his (also hers, theirs)1903
to cop (also stop, catch, get, etc.) a packet1916
click1917
not to know (or to wonder) what hit one1923
to get the works1928
to go for a burton1941
(to get) the chop or chopper1945
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > be destroyed, ruined, or come to an end
losec888
fallOE
forlesea1225
perishc1275
spilla1300
to go to wreche13..
to go to the gatec1330
to go to lostc1374
miscarryc1387
quenchc1390
to bring unto, to fall into, to go, put, or work to wrakea1400
mischieve?a1400
tinea1400
to go to the devilc1405
bursta1450
untwindc1460
to make shipwreck1526
to go to (the) pot1531
to go to wreck (and ruin)a1547
wrake1570
wracka1586
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
to lie in the dusta1591
mischief1598
to go (etc.) to rack (and ruin)1599
shipwreck1607
suffera1616
unravel1643
to fall off1684
tip (over) the perch1699
to do away with1769
to go to the dickens1833
collapse1838
to come (also go) a mucker1851
mucker1862
to go up1864
to go to squash1889
to go (to) stramash1910
to go for a burton1941
to meet one's Makera1978
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 18 But let the frame of things dis-ioynt, Both the Worlds suffer . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. ii. 36 This is no fish, but an Islander, that hath lately suffered by a Thunderbolt. View more context for this quotation
10. To sustain injury, damage, or loss; to be injured or impaired. Const. from, under.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > do harm [verb (intransitive)] > be harmed
to get, have, take scathe1303
suffer1609
damn1620
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > [verb (intransitive)] > be damaged
to do for ——a1475
suffer1609
damnify1712
damage1821
injure1848
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > suffer pain [verb (transitive)]
acorea1200
suffera1250
get?c1430
insuffer1488
sensea1669
suffer1796
rax1898
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxxiv. sig. H2v It suffers not in smilinge pomp, nor falls Vnder the blow of thralled discontent. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. v. 127 M. But then there is no consonancy in the sequell that suffers vnder probation: A. should follow, but O. does. View more context for this quotation
1697 H. Wanley in Bodleian Q. Rec. (1915) 1 107 In the Library, many such [sc. books of Prints] haue suffered extreamly.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 156 The teeth suffer in mastication or chewing the aliments.
1796 C. Smith Marchmont IV. 222 Suffering from the fatal law entanglements of his father.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. i. 7 How must he in the mean time be suffering in her opinion?
1841 W. M. Thackeray Shrove Tuesday in Paris in Wks. (1900) XIII. 569 Debt is a staple joke to our young men, ‘Who suffers for your coat?’ is, or used to be, a cant phrase.
1870 F. R. Wilson Archit. Surv. Churches Lindisfarne 68 The edifice suffered in the civil wars under Cromwell.
1894 P. Fitzgerald in Daily News 26 Sept. 6/4 It [sc. the Cathedral] has not suffered—the correct phrase—from the restorers.
1915 Times 26 Apr. 10/3 Other Army Corps suffered even more severely.
11. causative. To inflict pain upon. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > suffer pain [verb (transitive)] > cause pain
aileOE
grieve?c1225
girdc1275
painc1375
putc1390
sorea1400
troublec1400
anguisha1425
vex?c1425
urn1488
suffera1500
exagitate1532
fire1602
trachle1889
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1369 Yow sufferith them, oppressith and anoyith.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) v. i. 151 A hot ore-weening Curre,..Who being suffer'd with the Beares fell paw, Hath clapt his taile, betweene his legges. View more context for this quotation
1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. Suffer, to punish, to make suffer. ‘I'll suffer you, you young rascal!’
II. To tolerate, allow.† 17. With two objects (or the equivalent): To allow a person to have a certain thing. Obsolete.† 18. intransitive.† b. Of a condition of things: To allow or admit of a certain thing being done. Obsolete.
12. transitive. To endure the existence, presence, or activity of (a person); to bear with, put up with, tolerate. Now rare and archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate
forbearc897
tholec950
bearOE
abidec1300
bidea1325
takec1330
suffer1340
wielda1375
to have patience with (also in, toward)c1384
supportc1384
to sit with ——c1400
sustainc1400
thulgec1400
acceptc1405
to away with1528
brook1530
well away1533
to bear with —1538
digest1553
to comport with1565
stand1567
purse?1571
to put up1573
well away1579
comport1588
fadge1592
abrook1594
to come away1594
to take up with1609
swallow1611
embracea1616
to pack up1624
concocta1627
to set down bya1630
to take with ——1632
tolerate1646
brook1658
stomach1677
pouch1819
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 38 Þe kueade domesmen þet hise soffreþ.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 178 A man schulde suffur anoþur, and muche more a prelate schulde wisely suffur hys sugettis.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14749 Ferli thinc vs Quarfor þat we þe suffer þus, Quatkin thing can þou sai to Do, quar-for we suld þe bu?
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 494 Hou þat he suffreþ þe and me Wiþ miht al þat he may.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vii. xi. 229 Euer curtoisly ye haue suffred me.
1487 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 166 The Comyns wyll nott suffur hym.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges ii. 23 Thus the Lorde suffred all these nacions.
c1585 R. Browne Answere to Cartwright 73 They are to bee suffered as brethren in the churche.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 438. ⁋4 How pityful is the Condition of being only suffered?
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxviii. 351 He suffered his grandmother with a good-humoured indifference.
1872 W. D. Howells Their Wedding Journey 99 They are suffering and perpetuating him.
13. † b. To allow to remain; to leave. Obsolete. rare.† c. To admit of. Obsolete. rare.
a. To allow (a thing) to be done, exist, or take place; to allow to go on without interference or objection, put up with, tolerate. archaic or dialect.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit by non-intervention
let971
tholec1070
to let (a person or thing) worthlOE
to let (a person or thing) yworth?c1225
sufferc1290
seea1400
assuffera1530
tolerate1533
sustain1541
comport1620
to let something ride1908
c1290 Beket 1601 in S. Eng. Leg. 152 I-nelle none costomes soffri..Þat aȝein sothnesse beoth.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3337 Men, for ȝoure manchipe na more þat suffreþ.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ii. 174 Erchdekenes and officiales..Lat sadel hem with siluer owre synne to suffre.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Lucrece. 1846 That nolde she suffre by no wey.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 67 Suffre at thy table no distractioun.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiiv The sede [sc. of Cockle] is rounde & black & may well be suffred in brede corne.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5081 It falles to a fole his foly to shew, And a wise man witterly his wordes to suffer.
1584 T. Lodge Alarum against Vsurers 15 Our lawes..although they suffer a commoditie, yet confirme not they taking.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. iv. 128 The Easterly winds raine continually, not suffering their contraries.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) vi. ix. 8 A little fire is quickly trodden out, Which being suffer'd, Riuers cannot quench. View more context for this quotation
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Worthy Communicant ii. §2. 124 We suffer religion, and endure the laws of God but we love them not.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 30 Aug. (1965) I. 258 I..had the permission of touching the Relicks, which was never suffer'd in places where I was not known.
1806 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) III. 229 France will no longer suffer the existing government.
1894 H. Caine Manxman vi. xiii. 405 They wouldn't have me tell thee before because of thy body's weakness, but now they suffer it.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit to remain
suffera1500
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin vi. 104 Syr, we pray yow that the swerde be suffred yet in the ston to Passh.
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cii. 89 A rosted Apple suffered untill it were colde, and then eaten last at night..hath loosed the belly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > allow, admit of [verb (transitive)]
suffera1400
to give leave?a1513
admita1538
endure1593
bear1597
thole1770
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13037 Sco wist þat righ[t]wis was his sau, Moght noght suffer na gain-sau.
1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 199 It is not permitted to Sir Gilbert Elliot to be an ordinary man; neither his nature nor the times will suffer it.
14. Const. accusative and infinitive (†pple., complement) or clause: To allow or permit a person, animal, or inanimate thing to be or to do so-and-so.
a. a person or animal.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > give permission to
sufferc1290
libertya1513
leave1865
with accusative and infinitive.
with accusative and participle.a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 494 What mon wolde now suffre so His sone I-slayen.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. v Neyther would Duke Frederick..vnlesse he iudged him to be an honest man, suffer him so long vnpunyshed.1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 110 To suffir an harlot in his wyfes tyme lyand with an wthir harlot?1606 G. Chapman Monsieur D'Oliue ii What meanes your Grace to suffer me abus'd thus?with accusative and complement.a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. ii. 263 It were but necessarie you were wak't: Least being suffer'd in that harmefull slumber, The mortall Worme might make the sleepe eternall. View more context for this quotation1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia v. 179 Master More..by no meanes would admit of any diuision, nor suffer his men from finishing their fortifications.1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xviii. 336 He is obliged to suffer the King of Popo in quiet Possession of his Island.with clause.13.. R. Glouc. 1794 (MS. B) Þe kyng hym wolde ȝeue lyf, ac ys men nolde noȝt, Ne suffre, þat þer were o liue eny of here fon.1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 1056 Suffre ȝe nolle þat we by-wepe in þis word ȝour wikkede dedus.c1386 G. Chaucer Summoner's Prol. 7 I yow biseke, that of youre curteisye,..As suffereth me I may my tale telle.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxiii. 252 And therfore thei suffren, that folk of alle Lawes may peysibely duellen amonges hem.1457 J. Hardyng Chron. Proem xiv. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1912) Oct. 743 But so was sette your noble chaunceller, He wolde nought suffre I had such waryson.1611 Bible (King James) Judges xvi. 26 Suffer mee, that I may feele the pillars whereupon the house standeth. View more context for this quotation1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. xiv. 320 He ought not to suffer that one of his Fathers Assassins should enjoy the Fruit of his crime.c1290 Beket 1283 in S. Eng. Leg. 143 Þat o Man ne beoi-soffred to gon forth mid is wille.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 87 He..wol nat suffren hem..Neyther to been yburyed nor ybrent.
1453 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 279 The suynerd of the towne shulde not suffre the swyne to cum into the strone.
a1466 W. Gregory Chron. in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden) 146 They of the sayde markett shalle nought ressayvyn nor sufferne to entre, any preson..in to the sayde markett.
1486 Bk. St. Albans f v b Who that..suffrith hys wyfe to seche mony halowys.
1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xvi. f. 30v In offyces he seldome suffred to be any deputies.
1583 T. Stocker tr. Tragicall Hist. Ciuile Warres Lowe Countries iii. 99 [They] woulde not suffer the persons aforesayde come in.
1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Hist. Venice ii. ii. 121 He conjured them, not to suffer the victorious army incur any shame.
c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) To Children 8 Greatnesse of courage would not suffer him to put on a vizard.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 218 I was not suffered to stir far from the house, for fear I should run away.
1813 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) I. vii. 245 Maria fell into a sort of hysteric of fright..and anger because she was not suffered to wear a diamond necklace.
1833 H. Martineau Messrs. Vanderput & Snoek vi. 91 He has suffered the storks to build on the summer house.
1899 W. Besant Orange Girl ii. ix. 222 Her sins lie upon the head of those who suffer her..to grow up without religion.
b. an inanimate or immaterial thing.
ΚΠ
with accusative and infinitive.
with accusative and participle.a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xiii. 67 Hoe wollez bluþeloker suffren felonies idone to straunge passen biþoute peine þane aditi þe felons.1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Agst. Peril Idol. i Joas, and other Princes whiche eyther sette vp, or suffred suche aultars of Images vndestroyed.1589 T. Cooper Admon. People of Eng. 217 They..striue against God.., who wil not suffer it unpunished.1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. H I, heauen will be reuenged of euery ill, Nor will they suffer murder vnrepaide.?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xiv. 133 These men..will never suffer left Their vniust wooing of his wife.with accusative and complement.c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 344 Þis lif is ful of sorowe..þat suffriþ not blis wiþ it.1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 361 The faucon which..soeffreth nothing in the weie, Wherof that he mai take his preie.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 22620 Quy þi wrecched hande-werk in wa in þis fire þou suffris squa.1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 21v He that wol not suffre the stenche of my careyn aboue the erthe.1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. lxxx. 242 Nowe we wyll suffre in rest a season the armye of Castell.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19809 To suffer þar na wrang be don.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) Pref. 2 His precious blude, þe whilk he sufferd be schedd for vs.
a1525 ( Coventry Leet Bk. (1908) II. 475 Nor..suffryng eny thyng to be commytted..wherby the seid trewes..myght fall in vyolacion.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxlviv To suffer the sayde mencioned mariage, to take effect.
1622 S. Ward Christ All in All (1627) 31 He would neuer suffer any part of the repute or honour of any his acts or labours, rest vpon his owne head.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 208 A Sea of thick Clowds..ever now & then suffering the top of some other mountaine to peepe through.
1774 E. Burke Corr. (1844) I. 502 If..we should suffer any thing to be lost..by our remissness.
1827 W. Scott Highland Widow in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. xii. 234 She suffered his complaints..to die away without returning any answer.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 120 The answer was so unpleasing to James that he did not suffer it to be printed in the Gazette.
1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §115 The acid will retain the water and will not suffer it to evaporate.
15. To allow oneself, submit to be treated in a certain way; to endure, consent to be or to do something.† b. intransitive. Obsolete.
a. reflexive. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > offer no resistance [verb (reflexive)] > submit to action or treatment
suffera1400
submitc1425
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17239 I sufferd me for þe be slain.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 72 Sampson soeffred hym self be bonden.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. vi. 7 Why rather suffre ye not youre selves to be robbed?
1669 A. Woodhead tr. Life St. Teresa (1671) ii. xi. 92 Love beginning to afford them sensible consolations, they too much suffer themselves to be carried away therewith.
1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins Voy. to South-seas 197 This is a Place that a Man is oblig'd sometimes to suffer himself to be used ill.
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1871) iv. 174 Brown Adam [sc. Scott's horse] never suffered himself to be backed but by his master.
1877 Rep. Comm. Plan for Govt. Cities N.Y. in J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. (1888) II. li. 285 Considerable proportions of them in their devotion to politics suffer themselves to be driven from the walks of regular industry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > offer no resistance [verb (intransitive)] > submit to action
givec950
sufferc1315
submita1525
acquiesce1660
to take one's medicine1858
c1315 Shoreham i. 780 He soffreþ noȝt to be to-trede, And of bestes deuoured.
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xiii. 68 Ȝif a nellez noȝt suffri to ben resteid.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) i. i. 9 He might not suffre to be repreuid and taught of hym.
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Passioun in Poems (1998) I. 37 Thus Iesus with his woundis wyde As martir sufferit for to de.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 118 Our cuntrey wych wyl not suffur to be so ornat & so beutyful in every degre as other cuntreys be.
1632 T. Hawkins tr. P. Matthieu Vnhappy Prosperitie 80 He..endured contradiction, and sometime suffered to be cut off in his opinions.
a1665 K. Digby Private Mem. (1827) 278 As long as I can march at ease by myself, I will never suffer to be carried away from myself by the throng.
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 308 I must not suffer to have the laws broken before my face.
16. transitive (by ellipsis of infinitive) To permit or allow (a person) to do a certain thing; †to let alone. Also occasionally absol. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit to do
leaveOE
suffer1387
vouchsafe14..
admitc1425
permitc1475
promit?1511
beteem1604
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 187 So hadde Alfrede my broþer helped me, if Godwyn had i-suffred [1432–50 hade suffrede hym].
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 1 As fer as myn fraylnes wold suffre me.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxv Let them [sc. lambs] souke as longe as the dammes wyll suffre them.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 742/2 Let us suffer hym and se what he wolde do.
a1592 R. Greene Hist. Orlando Furioso (1594) sig. Ciiv I wish thee well Orlando: get thee gone, Say that a Centynell did suffer thee.
1604 T. Dekker Magnificent Entertainm. sig. B3 Euen children (might they haue bin suffred) would gladly haue spent their little strength.
1663 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 483 Then all went in, soe many that were suffered.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical ix. 97 One of them would have been poking a Cranes Bill down his Throat,..but the Doctors would not suffer him.
1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 492 Let us hear him now, if indignation will suffer us.
1878 J. P. Hopps Life Jesus x. 37 How would I have blest you if you would have suffered me!
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit to have
sufferc1290
give1548
allow1581
c1290 Beket 1615 in S. Eng. Leg. 152 Bote þov suffri him is riȝte lawes Ichulle bi-come þi fo.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Hypsipyle. 1575 Alle tho that sufferede hym his wille.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) lxx. 115 The turke..wold not suffre them of nothyng, sauf to occupye and laboure therthe.
a. Of a person (transferred of a thing): To allow a certain thing to be done. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (intransitive)]
suffer1297
foryieldc1420
permit1553
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4198 & þe wule he wolde þis tendre þing wemmy foule ynou, & heo ne miȝte sofry noȝt, Mid lecherye he hire slou.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xxii. 51 Suffre ȝe til hidur [1526 Tyndale Soffre ye thus farre forthe].
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8094 A gloue of þat gay gate he belyue,..None seond but hir-selfe, þat suffert full well.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iv. i. 259 Still, do'st thou suffer Heau'n? will no flame, No heate of sinne make thy iust wrath to boile? View more context for this quotation
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iv. xviii. 437 The name..remayning as diuers languages and dialects will suffer, almost the same.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > admit of [verb (intransitive)]
sufficec1369
suffer1549
admitc1585
allow1635
permit1709
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Priuate Baptisme f. v*v And saye the Lordes prayer, yf the tyme will suffre.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 21 If weather will suffer, this councell I geeue: leaue sowing of wheat, before Hallomas eue.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xxii. 256 If his leisure will suffer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
v.a1250