Suffer Meaning
/ˈsʌfə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo undergo hardship.
verbTo feel pain.
Sentence Examples
It is man's lot to suffer.
This city will suffer from an acute water shortage unless it rains soon.
All humanity will suffer if a nuclear war breaks out.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Patients with chronic pain often ____ severe headaches every day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people ____ from allergies in the spring when the flowers and trees begin to release their pollen.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin suffero Latin sufferre Vulgar Latin *sufferīre Old French suffrirbor. Middle English suffren English suffer From Middle English suffren, from Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre (“to offer, hold up, bear, suffer”), from sub- (“up, under”) + ferō (“to carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”). Displaced native Old English þrōwian.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Our correspondent found that timekeeping had suffered following the substitution of Class 5 4-6-0s on these workings."
— 1961 October, “Motive Power Miscellany: Scottish Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 638:
"If you may pleaſe to thinke I loue the King, / And through him, what’s neereſt to him, which is / Your gracious ſelfe; embrace but my direction, / If your more ponderous and ſetled proiect may ſuffer alteration."
— c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
"Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return."
— 2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, archived from the original on 01 May 2024, page 68:
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 22:18:
"But Iesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come vnto me: for of such is þe kingdome of heauen."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 19:14:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Patients with chronic pain often ____ severe headaches every day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people ____ from allergies in the spring when the flowers and trees begin to release their pollen.