suffer

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin suffero Latin sufferre Vulgar Latin *sufferīre Old French suffrirbor. Middle English suffren English suffer From Middle English suffren, from Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre (“to offer, hold up, bear, suffer”), from sub- (“up, under”) + ferō (“to carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”). Displaced native Old English þrōwian.

1. To undergo hardship.

   “Many artists suffer before becoming famous.”

2. To feel pain.

   “At least he didn't suffer when he died in the car crash.”

3. To become worse.

   “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.”

4. To endure, undergo.

   “I've been suffering your insults for years.”

   “We hope you never have to suffer the same pain.”

5. To allow.

   “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.”