Dictionary

sufferance en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈsʌf(ə)ɹəns/ (UK)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, uncountable) 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, [...] 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 16, page 84:
   • In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for the select circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass. [...] Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance; they were received with distance and suspicion. 1892, Walter Besant, “The Select Circle”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 46:
   • 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. 1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in The Last Man. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 115:
2. (countable, uncountable) Acquiescence or tacit compliance with some circumstance, behavior, or instruction.
   • When his talk trespasses beyond sufferance, I chastise him. 1910, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 20, in Lady Good-for-Nothing:
   • [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; [...] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 34, page 241:
   • Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favour, they erected to themselves oratories. [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
   • One of the benefits that Epic touts is its interoperability […] there's a large ecosystem of aftermarket add-ons that work with Epic. But Epic is a product, not a protocol, so its much-touted interop exists entirely on its terms, and at its sufferance. If Epic chooses, a doctor using its products can send files to a doctor using a rival product. But Epic can also veto that activity. 2024 October 2, Cory Doctorow, “Epic Systems, a lethal health record monopolist”, in Pluralistic:
3. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Suffering; pain, misery.
   • [T]he streak / Of sufferance yet upon his forehead lay, / Where the blue veins look'd shadowy, shrunk, and weak; [...] 1819 July 15, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, canto II, stanza CXLVII, page 192:
   • The sufferances which simply touch us in minde, doe much lesse afflict me, then most men [...]. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
   • Fortune, do diuorce / It from the bearer, 'tis a ſufferance, panging / As ſoule and bodies ſeuering. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 214, column 2:
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) 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. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 21:
5. (UK, countable, historical, uncountable) A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods.

Forms

Deriveds

on sufferance · nonsufferance · long-sufferance

Synonyms

acquiesce