\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.