Definition of: suffer

(suf′ər) v.i.
1. To feel pain or distress.
2. To be affected injuriously; suffer loss or injury.
3. To undergo punishment; especially, to be put to death.
4. Archaic To tolerate or endure pain, injury, etc.
—v.t.
5. To have inflicted on one; sustain, as an injury or loss.
6. To undergo; pass through, as change.
7. To bear; endure: He cannot suffer more pain.
8. To allow; permit: Will he suffer us to leave? See synonyms under ALLOW, ENDURE, PERMIT. [<AF suffrir, OF sofrir, ult. <L sufferre <sub- up from under + ferre bear]
—suf′·fer·er noun