Suffer — Defs

01 v. t. 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.

imp. & p. p. Suffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Suffering

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.

02 v. i. 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.

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.