Suf″fer (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Suffered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Suffering.] [OE. suffren, soffren, OF. sufrir, sofrir, F. souffrir, (assumed) LL. sofferire, for L. sufferre; sub under + ferre to bear, akin to E. bear. See Bear to support.] 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.