Suffer Meaning
Suffer Definition & Usage
To undergo or experience pain, distress, or hardship, whether physical or mental.
Examples
- "He suffered a broken leg in the accident."
- "The community has suffered greatly due to the recent floods."
- "She suffered from anxiety for many years before seeking help."
- "The soldiers suffered in the harsh winter conditions."
- "They are suffering from the loss of their loved one."
To allow something unpleasant to happen or to endure it without protest.
Examples
- "I can’t believe we have to suffer through this long meeting."
- "She suffered through a week of heavy rain during her vacation."
- "He suffered the humiliation of being publicly scolded."
- "The employees suffered the constant pressure of tight deadlines."
- "They suffered through years of harsh criticism but never gave up."
To permit or allow something to happen, especially in an official or legal sense.
Examples
- "The company suffered the expansion of its operations in foreign markets."
- "The legislation allows for certain exceptions, but it suffers from ambiguous language."
- "The property suffers from lack of maintenance."
- "His reputation suffered due to the scandal."
- "The project suffered delays due to unexpected budget cuts."
Cultural Context
The word 'suffer' has been in the English language for centuries, originating from the Latin word 'sufferre', meaning 'to bear, undergo'. It has long been associated with both physical and emotional pain. Over time, it has also developed the sense of tolerating or enduring negative situations, often used metaphorically for various hardships.
The Long Road to Healing
Story
The Long Road to Healing
Emma stood by the window, gazing out at the pouring rain. It was the third day in a row that the weather had been like this—dreary, heavy, and unrelenting. As the sound of the storm outside echoed in her mind, she couldn't help but think about the last few months. She had suffered through countless sleepless nights, haunted by memories of the accident. The pain in her leg had been constant, but it was nothing compared to the weight she carried inside. She had suffered a loss she couldn't put into words—a loss of her own sense of self. Her therapist had told her it would take time, that healing wasn't just physical, but emotional too. And though the physical pain had lessened, the emotional scars were still fresh. ‘You need to allow yourself to feel, Emma,’ her therapist had said, ‘Sometimes, we suffer through things that seem impossible to bear, but that doesn’t mean we can’t heal.’ Her best friend, Sarah, had come by the other day, bringing with her a bright bouquet of flowers. They sat together, and Sarah asked how she was holding up. Emma smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘I’m surviving,’ she said, ‘but I don’t know if I’ll ever really stop suffering.’ The road to recovery wasn’t easy, and every day Emma had to suffer through the memories of the crash, the pain, and the sense of hopelessness that often followed. But slowly, she was learning how to endure, how to tolerate the bad days and the long nights. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress. One evening, a month later, Emma stood in front of the mirror, finally able to put on her shoes without wincing. She smiled softly at her reflection. It had taken everything to get here, but she had endured. And while the suffering hadn’t disappeared completely, she had learned how to survive it, step by step.
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