Etimology
From Middle English suffren, from Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre (“to offer, hold up, bear, suffer”), from sub- (“up, under”) + ferō (“I carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”). Displaced native Old English þrōwian.
verb
suffer (third-person singular simple present suffers, present participle suffering, simple past and past participle suffered)
(intransitive) To undergo hardship.
(intransitive) To feel pain.
(intransitive) To become worse.
(transitive) To endure, undergo.
(transitive, archaic, law) To allow.
Examples
Synonym: bear
Many artists suffer before becoming famous.
Synonyms: agonize, anguish, thole; see also Thesaurus:suffer
At least he didn't suffer when he died in the car crash.
Synonyms: deteriorate, worsen; see also Thesaurus:worsen
If you keep partying like this, your school-work will suffer.
Our correspondent found that timekeeping had suffered following the substitution of Class 5 4-6-0s on these workings.
Synonyms: bear, dree, thole; see also Thesaurus:tolerate
I've been suffering your insults for years.
We hope you never have to suffer the same pain.
If you may pleaſe to thinke I loue the King, / And through him, what’s neereſt to him, which is / Your gracious ſelfe; embrace but my direction, / If your more ponderous and ſetled proiect may ſuffer alteration.
Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
Synonym: permit
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue.
But Iesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come vnto me: for of such is þe kingdome of heauen.
"Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.
[…] it shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle to be parked […] beyond the period of time established by the duration of the parking meter […]
Related words
related terms
sublate
sublation