Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sufferance?

\Suf"fer*ance\, n. [OE. suffrance, OF. sufrance, soufrance, F. souffrance, L. sufferentia, from sufferens, -entis, p. pr. of sufferre. See {Suffer}.] 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. --Shak. 2. Pain endured; misery; suffering; distress. The seeming sufferances that you had borne. --Shak. 3. Loss; damage; injury. [Obs.] A grievous . . . sufferance on most part of their fleet. --Shak. 4. Submission under difficult or oppressive circumstances; patience; moderation. --Chaucer. But hasty heat tempering with sufferance wise. --Spenser. 5. Negative consent by not forbidding or hindering; toleration; permission; allowance; leave. --Shak. In their beginning they are weak and wan, But soon, through sufferance, grow to fearful end. --Spenser. Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favor, they erected to themselves oratories. --Hooker. 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. --Blackstone. {On sufferance}, by mere toleration; as, to remain in a house on sufferance. Syn: Endurance; pain; misery; inconvenience; patience; moderation; toleration; permission.