1 intr. undergo pain, grief, damage, etc. (suffers acutely; your reputation will suffer; suffers from neglect).
2 tr. undergo, experience, or be subjected to (pain, loss, grief, defeat, change, etc.) (suffered banishment).
3 tr. put up with; tolerate (does not suffer fools gladly).
4 intr. undergo martyrdom.
5 intr. (usu. foll. by to + infin.) archaic allow.
Derivatives:
sufferable adj. sufferer n. suffering n.
Etymology: ME f. AF suffrir, soeffrir, OF sof(f)rir f. L sufferre (as SUB-, ferre bear)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.