suffer

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: sŭfʹər, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌfə/
• (US) enPR: sŭfʹər, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌfɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌfə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: suf‧fer

Verb

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

1. (intransitive) To undergo hardship.

   Synonym: bear

   Many artists suffer before becoming famous.

2. (intransitive) To feel pain.

   Synonyms: agonize, anguish, thole; see also Thesaurus:suffer

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

3. (intransitive) To become worse.

   Synonyms: deteriorate, worsen; see also Thesaurus:worsen

   If you keep partying like this, your school-work will suffer.

   • 1961 October, “Motive Power Miscellany: Scottish Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 638:

     Our correspondent found that timekeeping had suffered following the substitution of Class 5 4-6-0s on these workings.

4. (transitive) To endure, undergo.

   Synonyms: bear, dree, thole; see also Thesaurus:tolerate

   I've been suffering your insults for years.

   We hope you never have to suffer the same pain.

   • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     If you may pleaſe to thinke I loue the King, / And through him, what’s neereſt to him, which is / Your gracious ſelfe; embrace but my direction, / If your more ponderous and ſetled proiect may ſuffer alteration.

   • 2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:

     Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.

5. (transitive, archaic, law) To allow.

   Synonym: permit

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Exodus 22:18:

     Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Matthew 19:14:

     But Iesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come vnto me: for of such is þe kingdome of heauen.

   • 1938, The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 203:

     "Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.

   • 1978, 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

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

• sublate
• sublation

Descendants

Translations

Anagrams

• ruffes, suffre

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʏfər

Etymology 1

Adjective

suffer

1. comparative degree of suf

Etymology 2

Noun

suffer m (plural suffers)

1. Alternative form of sufferd

Latin

Verb

suffer

1. second-person singular present active imperative of sufferō