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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Suffering, vbl. n. Also: sufferring, sovering. [ME and e.m.E. sufferynge, suffrynge (both Rolle), suffring (Wyclif), suffering (1548); Suffer v.] The action of Suffer v.

1. Endurance of pain or adversity. Also, an instance of such endurance. (Suffer v. 2.)(1) 1562-3 Winȝet II 47/24.
He wes a man of grete labouris, of grete chastitie, of grete patience, and suffering 1588 King Cat. 15.
Na tyme in doing or suffering [suld be estemit] laborius or langsum(2) Arundel MS 249/305.
O marcifull God, I beseik thé for all the … passionis, meritis, and sufferingis of all the angellis, archiangellis, … marteris [etc.] 1635 Dickson Hebrews 9.
The glorie of Christs godhead was hid … by the sufferings of His manhead 1717 Wodrow Corr. II 218.
I hope you'll hold hand to this History of the Sufferings

2. Allowing, giving sanction for (someone or something to be or do something). (Suffer v. 7.) 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 201a.
[He] consentit be resson of the suffering of the bak vall & grond thairof to stand as it is 1588 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 171b.
Removeing thar guidis and geir furth of the samen and suffering the said Dauid to kendill his ingill in the hows thairof 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 210.
For suffering of him selff to be markit be the dewill with ane rod 1681 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 9 Nov.
Fynes William Broune … for his bygone trepasses in suffering his horses to goe in to the Cannanis yeards

3. Submitting to, undergoing (the action or influence of another). (Suffer v. 5.) 1531 Vaus (1531) 4.
Passivis signifyis sovering that ane soweris of ane wthyr

4. Calling into being, bringing about. a1578 Pitsc. II 315/17.
The maist pairt of the nobilitie and ministrie var in Edinburgh anens … the sufferring of ane day of law anens the clairk of Sanctandros