sufferance

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English sufferaunce, from Anglo-Norman suffraunce, from Late Latin sufferentia.

Pronunciation

Noun

sufferance (countable and uncountable, plural sufferances)

  1. (archaic) Endurance, especially patiently, of pain or adversity.
    • 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:
      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, [...]
    • 1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in The Last Man. , volume III, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 115:
      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.
    • 1892, Walter Besant, “The Select Circle”, in The Ivory Gate , New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, , →OCLC, page 46:
      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.
  2. Acquiescence or tacit compliance with some circumstance, behavior, or instruction.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. , London: [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 34, page 241:
      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; [...]
    • 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J S, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, , London: Will Stansby , published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
      Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favour, they erected to themselves oratories.
    • 1910, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 20, in Lady Good-for-Nothing:
      When his talk trespasses beyond sufferance, I chastise him.
    • 2024 October 2, Cory Doctorow, “Epic Systems, a lethal health record monopolist”, in Pluralistic‎:
      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.
  3. (archaic) Suffering; pain, misery.
  4. (obsolete) Loss; damage; injury.
  5. (British, historical) A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods.

Synonyms

References

The noun sufferance is listed in following dictionaries:
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia