sufferance Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun patient endurance especially of pain or distress
noun a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations
toleration; acceptance.
- all people should practice toleration and live together in peace

OE. suffrance, OF. sufrance, soufrance, F. souffrance, L. sufferentia, from sufferens, -entis, p.pr. of sufferre. See Suffer.

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.
Pain endured; misery; suffering; distress.
The seeming sufferances that you had borne. Shak.
Loss; damage; injury. Obs.
A grievous . . . sufferance on most part of their fleet. Shak.
Submission under difficult or oppressive circumstances; patience; moderation. Chaucer.
But hasty heat tempering with sufferance wise. Spenser.
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.
A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods. Eng. Syn. -- Endurance; pain; misery; inconvenience; patience; moderation; toleration; permission.