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Today it means

tolerate

to allow without interfering

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Where does the word "tolerate" come from? It comes from Latin tolerare, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

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Where does the word "tolerate" come from? It comes from Latin tolerare, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

Tolerate’s story begins in Latin: tolerare meant “to bear, endure.” Related to 'tollere', to lift. It reached English by 1530s as tolerate. 'tolerance' followed. Today, tolerate means to allow without interfering.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tolerare "to bear, endure", related to 'tollere', to lift.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1530s tolerate "to endure", 'tolerance' followed.

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