sufferance

noun

Etymology: From Middle English sufferaunce, from Anglo-Norman suffraunce, from Late Latin sufferentia. By surface analysis, suffer + -ance.

1. Endurance, especially patiently, of pain or adversity.

   “At length when as he ſaw her haſtie heat / Abate, and panting breath begin to fayle, / He through long ſufferãce growing now more great, / Roſe in his strength, and gan her freſh aſſayle, [...]”

   “I indulged in this meditation for a moment, and then again addressed the mourner, who stood leaning against the bed with that expression of resigned despair, of complete misery, and a patient sufferance of it, which is far more touching than any of the insane ravings or wild gesticulation of untamed sorrow.”

2. Acquiescence or tacit compliance with some circumstance, behavior, or instruction.

   “[M]oſt wretched man, / That to affections does the bridle lend; / In their beginning they are weake and wan, / But ſoone through ſuff'rance growe to fearefull end; [...]”

   “Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favour, they erected to themselves oratories.”

3. Suffering; pain, misery.

   “The sufferances which simply touch us in minde, doe much lesse afflict me, then most men [...].”

   “Fortune, do diuorce / It from the bearer, 'tis a ſufferance, panging / As ſoule and bodies ſeuering.”

4. Loss; damage; injury.

   “The deſperate Tempeſt has ſo bang'd the Turke, / That their deſignement halts; Another ſhippe of Venice hath ſeene / A greeuous wracke and ſufferance / On moſt part of the Fleete.”

5. A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods.