Forbearance Meaning

/fəˈbɛːɹ(ə)n(t)s/
C2

Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounPatient self-control; restraint and tolerance under provocation.

nounThe action of forbearing (“abstaining or refraining from doing something”); (countable) an instance of this.

Do not mistake patience for forbearance.
Islam is a religion of forbearance.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The polite customer showed great ____ when the young waiter accidentally spilled water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher showed great ____ while dealing with the rowdy and disrespectful group of students.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Germanic *fra- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Germanic *beraną Proto-Germanic *fraberaną Old English forberan Middle English forberen English forbear Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English forbearance From forbear (“to keep away from, avoid”) + -ance (suffix forming nouns indicating conditions or states).

"Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance: / The truth appeares ſo naked on my ſide, / That any purblind eye may find it out." — 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 103, column 2:
"Then true nobleſſe vvould / Learne him forbearance from ſo foule a vvrong, / VVhat ſubject can giue ſentence on his King: […]" — 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature H, verso:
"[…] Death denounc't that day, / VVhich he preſumes already vain and void, / Becauſe not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, / By ſome immediate ſtroak; but ſoon ſhall find / Forbearance no acquittance ere day end." — 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Kk, verso, lines 49–53:
"Polyphilus […] at the univerſity vvas diſtinguiſhed equally for his ſucceſsful progress, […] vvithout any ſtrict confinement to hours of ſtudy, or remarkable forbearance of the common amuſements of young men." — 1750 June 1 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 19. Monday, May 22. 1750.”, in The Rambler, 2nd edition, volume I, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1751, →OCLC, page 150:
"Yet apprehenſive that his forbearance to obey, vvould be more alarming, he repeated in a faltering and lovv voice the follovving lines: […]" — 1764 December 24 (indicated as 1765), Onuphrio Muralto, translated by William Marshal [pseudonyms; Horace Walpole], chapter IV, in The Castle of Otranto, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Lownds […], →OCLC, page 133:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The polite customer showed great ____ when the young waiter accidentally spilled water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher showed great ____ while dealing with the rowdy and disrespectful group of students.

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