forbearance

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Germanic *fra- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Germanic *beraną Proto-Germanic *fraberaną Old English forberan Middle English forberen English forbear Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English forbearance From forbear (“to keep away from, avoid”) + -ance (suffix forming nouns indicating conditions or states).

1. The action of forbearing (“abstaining or refraining from doing something”); (countable) an instance of this.

   “Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance: / The truth appeares ſo naked on my ſide, / That any purblind eye may find it out.”

   “Then true nobleſſe vvould / Learne him forbearance from ſo foule a vvrong, / VVhat ſubject can giue ſentence on his King: […]”

2. The action of forbearing (“abstaining or refraining from doing something”); (countable) an instance of this.

   “It is neceſſary that there ſhould be a ſtated Rate of Intereſt, that in Debts and Forbearances, vvhere Contract has not ſetled it betvveen the Parties, the Lavv might give a Rule, and Courts of Judicature might knovv vvhat Damages to allovv: […]”

3. The action of forbearing (“abstaining or refraining from doing something”); (countable) an instance of this.

   “If I have little, others have leſſe; If I feele paine, ſome others, torture: If their ſufferings be juſt, my forbearances are mercifull; my proviſions, to theirs liberall: […]”

   “"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"”