Middle English Dictionary Entry
sufferaunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sufferaunt adj. Also suffra(u)nt, suffraund, souffrant & (?error) sufferants. |
| Etymology | OF souffrant, AF suffrant, -aunt, suffrand, suffranz, vars. of OF sofrant. The form suffraund perh. influenced by suff(e)rand(e, ppl. of ME sufferen v.; some non-N/NM ppls. in -and(e in sufferen v. could also be construed as this word. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Willing to bear hardship, affliction, etc.; (b) self-restrained, slow to anger, calm; (c) patiently awaiting an event; also, as noun: one who patiently waits.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)587,597 : Ȝif þe falleþ trauail on honde Or pine of bodi..Off al þis þu most suffraunt be..Þenk hou Iesu..þolede pine and shame for man, And..Wid-oute gruching he held him stille..For we sholde ensaumple take To be suffraunt in eueri stede.
- c1390 ?Hilton Qui Habitat (Vrn)90/5 : Þen schul þei ben wel suffraund.
- c1390 Lord my God (Vrn)62 : Boxum me make wiþ-oute feyning..Vmble wiþ-outen ȝein-siggyng, Suffraunt wiþ-outen grucchyng.
- ?a1450 Mem.Cred.(Tan 201)97/2 : Crist þat was y tempted þurgh þe fende..defendid him nouȝt with maistrie but by ensaumples of holy writte..for to teche vs to be suffraunt and pacient in temptacion.
b
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)21/18 : Þat he be chaast, sobre, suffrant, lowly, & merciful, not coueitous ne extorcious.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1010 : Therto she hadde the moste grace, To have stedefast perseveraunce, And esy, atempre governaunce, That ever I knew or wyste yit, So pure suffraunt was hir wyt.
- a1500 Form Conf.(2) (Nero A.3)302 : I haue..byn..In ire and enuy, not so charitabbyl and sufferants as I schuld be.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)646 : Parfite Crist þe pesible blissed, Þat ben suffrant & sobre & susteyne anger.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1584 : Sle with resoun al this hete! Men seyn 'the suffrant [vrr. sufferaunt, souffrant] overcomith,' parde; Ek 'whoso wol han lief, he lief moot lete.'
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)86/20 : He desceyvith neuer a suffraunt a bider from his desire.