Suffering

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌfəɹɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of experiencing prolonged discomfort, whether physically or emotionally, often resulting in distress or hardship in various aspects of life
2. The condition characterized by prolonged pain or emotional distress, impacting overall well-being and often arising from challenging situations
3. The experience of enduring significant physical or emotional pain that impacts daily life

Etymology: "Suffering" is a straightforward formation: the verb "suffer" with the suffix "-ing," which in Middle English produced nouns from verbs, so the word means the act or state of undergoing pain. The verb itself came into English through Old French "suffrir," which descended from Vulgar Latin "sufferīre," a blend of "sub" (under) and "ferre" (to bear or carry). The underlying image is of carrying a load from beneath, or bearing something up under pressure. Before "suffering" settled into its current role, English relied on other words for the same idea. Old English speakers used "bale," meaning woe or torment, and "woe" itself, and "suffering" gradually displaced them. The older word "bale" survives now mainly in fixed phrases and in its descendant "baleful."

Synonyms: pain, anguish, misery, distress, torment

Antonyms: relief, comfort, ease, pleasure, happiness