suffer

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English suffren, from Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin suffero (“to offer, hold up, bear, suffer”), from sub- (“up, under”) + ferō (“I carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”).

Verb[edit]

suffer (third-person singular simple present suffers, present participle suffering, simple past and past participle suffered)

  1. (intransitive) To undergo hardship.
  2. (intransitive) To feel pain.
    At least he didn't suffer when he died in the car crash.
  3. (intransitive, construed with from) To have a disease or condition.
    He's suffering from the flu this week.
  4. (intransitive) To become worse.
    If you keep partying like this, your school-work will suffer.
  5. (transitive) To endure, undergo.
    I've been suffering your insults for years.
    I hope you never have to suffer the same pain.
  6. (transitive, archaic) To allow.
    • The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 203:
      "Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.
    • Section 31-36 of the Code of Montgomery County, Maryland:
      . . . 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 . . . .

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

to undergo hardship
to feel pain
to have a disease or condition
To become worse
To endure, undergo
To allow

Anagrams[edit]

Dutch[edit]

Adjective[edit]

suffer

  1. comparative form of suf

Latin[edit]

Verb[edit]

suffer

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of sufferō
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=suffer&oldid=21057200"