SUFFERANCE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Sufferance

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noun

Sufferance n.

1.

The state of suffering; the bearing of pain; endurance. "He must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance."

2.

Pain endured; misery; suffering; distress. "The seeming sufferances that you had borne."

3.

Loss; damage; injury. (Obs.) "A grievous... sufferance on most part of their fleet."

4.

Submission under difficult or oppressive circumstances; patience; moderation. "But hasty heat tempering with sufferance wise."

5.

Negative consent by not forbidding or hindering; toleration; permission; allowance; leave. "In their beginning they are weak and wan, But soon, through sufferance, grow to fearful end." "Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favor, they erected to themselves oratories."

6.

A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods. (Eng.)

Estate of sufferance (Law), the holding by a tenant who came in by a lawful title, but remains, after his right has expired, without positive leave of the owner.

On sufferance, by mere toleration; as, to remain in a house on sufferance.

Synonyms: Endurance; pain; misery; inconvenience; patience; moderation; toleration; permission.

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Etymology of 'Sufferance'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Sufferance" Quotes from Famous Books

... had brought him here rather under protest, simply feeling that it was up to a host to do a little something or other by way of trying to amuse an old college mate who had come for a week's visit. Since he was there on sufferance, so to speak, it was up to him to keep still and ...

— The Raid on the Termites • Paul Ernst

... a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies, and my usances:[35] Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe: You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well, then, it now appears you need my help: Go to, then; you ...

— The Merchant of Venice [liberally edited by Charles Kean] • William Shakespeare

... this fierce masterful freedom was good for the soul, sometimes, doubtless. It was old Knowles's vital air. He wondered if the old man would succeed in his hobby, if he could make the slavish beggars and thieves in the alleys yonder comprehend this fierce freedom. They craved leave to live on sufferance now, not knowing their possible divinity. It was a desperate remedy, this sense of unchecked liberty; but their disease was desperate. As for himself, he did not need it; that element was not lacking. In a mere bodily sense, to be sure. He felt ...

— Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 8, No. 50, December, 1861 • Various

... exacting pledges from all new students to join no society without approval by the Faculty; thus providing as they thought, for an early demise of the fraternities. It did not work out that way, however. The chapter of Alpha Delta Phi held that their society existed at least by sufferance of the Faculty, and proceeded to initiate members, a fact that was not discovered until March, 1847. Then followed a series of suspensions and re-admissions of students who had promised not to join these societies. Not only were they obliged to resign their membership, ...

— The University of Michigan • Wilfred Shaw

... not done!" she flashed out defiantly. "I have no notion of being your wife on sufferance, I assure you. We are only on the threshold as yet. We need not go a step farther unless we choose. And after what you have said to me, . . . ...

— The Great Amulet • Maud Diver

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