Suf"fer , v. i. 1. To
feel or undergo pain of body or mind; to bear
what is inconvenient; as, we suffer from pain, sickness, or sorrow; we suffer with anxiety.
O well for him whose will is strong!
He suffers, but he will not suffer long.
Tennyson.
2. To undergo punishment; specifically, to undergo the penalty of death.
The father was first condemned to suffer upon a day appointed, and the son afterwards the day following.
Clarendon. 3.
To be injured; to sustain loss or damage.
Public business
suffers by private
infirmities.
Sir W.
Temple.
Suf"fer (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suffered (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Suffering.]
[OE. suffren,
soffren, OF. sufrir, sofrir, F. souffrir, (assumed) LL.
sofferire, for L.
sufferre; sub under + ferre to bear, akin
to E. bear. See Bear to support.] 1. To feel, or endure, with pain, annoyance, etc.; to submit to
with distress or grief; to undergo; as, to suffer pain of body,
or grief of
mind.
2. To endure or
undergo without sinking; to support; to sustain; to bear up under.
Our spirit and strength entire,
Strongly to suffer and support our pains.
Milton. 3. To undergo; to be affected by; to sustain; to experience; as, most substances suffer a change when
long exposed to air and moisture; to suffer loss or damage.
If your more ponderous and settled project
May suffer alteration.
Shak.
4. To allow; to permit; not to forbid or
hinder; to tolerate.
Thou shalt in
any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Lev. xix.
17. I suffer them to enter and
possess.
Milton. Syn. -- To permit; bear; endure; support; sustain; allow; admit; tolerate. See Permit.
Hear it pronounced