suffer

Where does the word "suffer" come from? It comes from Latin sufferre, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Suffer’s story begins in Latin: sufferre meant “to bear under, to endure.” To bear under, to endure, from sub- (under) and ferre (to carry). It reached English by 1200s as suffer. Settled as the English word for experiencing pain or hardship. Today, suffer means to experience pain, hardship, or distress.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sufferre "to bear under, to endure", to bear under, to endure, from sub- (under) and ferre (to carry).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s suffer "to experience pain, hardship, or distress", settled as the English word for experiencing pain or hardship.