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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)