Bear (�), v. i. 1. To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
Dryden.
2. To suffer, as in carrying a burden.
But man is born to bear.
Pope.
3. To endure with patience; to be patient.
I can not, can not bear.
Dryden.
4. To press; — with on or upon, or against.
These men bear hard on the suspected party.
Addison.
5. To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.
6. To relate or refer; — with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?
7. To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
Hawthorne.
8. To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E.
To bear against, to approach for attack or seizure; as, a lion bears against his prey. — To bear away(Naut.), to change the course of a ship, and make her run before the wind. — To bear back, to retreat. “Bearing back from the blows of their sable antagonist.” Sir W. Scott. — To bear down upon(Naut.), to approach from the windward side; as, the fleet bore down upon the enemy. — To bear in with(Naut.), to run or tend toward; as, a ship bears in with the land. — To bear off(Naut.), to steer away, as from land. — To bear up. (a) To be supported; to have fortitude; to be firm; not to sink; as, to bear up under afflictions. (b) (Naut.) To put the helm up (or to windward) and so put the ship before the wind; to bear away. Hamersly. — To bear upon(Mil.), to be pointed or situated so as to affect; to be pointed directly against, or so as to hit (the object); as, to bring or plant guns so as to bear upon a fort or a ship; the artillery bore upon the center. — To bear up to, to tend or move toward; as, to bear up to one another. — To bear with, to endure; to be indulgent to; to forbear to resent, oppose, or punish.