Reading Theme:
Suffer: Definition, Usage & Common Errors (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：experience pain (suffer)
suffer
/ˈsʌf.ər/
v.
To experience something bad or unpleasant, like pain, loss, or difficulty.
experience pain
➕
/ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns peɪn/
v.
To undergo or endure something physically or emotionally painful, distressing, or negative.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'sufferre' (sub- 'under' + ferre 'to bear'), meaning 'to bear under'.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine 'tough stuff' happening, and you have to **suffer** through it.
📖 Example
After the long flight, she suffered from a terrible headache and needed to rest.
She experienced a severe headache after the long journey and required rest.
🔗 Collocations
suffer from – to be affected by an illness or problem
suffer a loss – to experience a defeat or bereavement
🔄 Synonyms
endure (v.) – To suffer patiently; to withstand hardship.
experience (v.) – To undergo or live through an event or feeling, often negative.
🚫 Antonyms
enjoy (v.) – To take pleasure in; to have a good time.
🌱 Derivatives
suffering (n.) – The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
📖 Cultural Story
The word entered English from Old French 'souffrir', originally carrying a sense of 'allow, tolerate'. Its core notion of enduring pain, loss, or hardship is evident in its Latin roots and remains central in medical, legal, and philosophical contexts.
Meaning 2：put up with (suffer)
suffer
/ˈsʌf.ər/
v.
To allow or tolerate something to happen, often used negatively to mean 'cannot bear'.
put up with
➕
/pʊt ʌp wɪð/
v.
To tolerate or allow something to happen, especially something unpleasant or annoying, often implying reluctance.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I can't suffer my roommate's loud music late at night; it's too disruptive.
I am unable to tolerate my roommate playing loud music late at night because it is too disturbing.
🔗 Collocations
suffer fools gladly – to have little patience for foolish or incompetent people (often used in the negative)
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
resist (v.) – To refuse to accept or be affected by something; to oppose.
Meaning 3：be afflicted by (suffer)
suffer
/ˈsʌf.ər/
v.
To have or be affected by an illness or medical condition.
be afflicted by
➕
/bi əˈflɪk.tɪd baɪ/
v.
To be subject to or affected by a specific illness, ailment, or medical condition.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
During flu season, many children suffer from high feears and coughs.
Many children are afflicted by high fevers and coughs during the annual flu period.
🔗 Collocations
suffer from an allergy – to be affected by a specific allergic condition
suffer a stroke – to experience a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain
🔄 Synonyms
have (v.) – To be affected by or experience a particular illness.
be stricken with (phrase) – To be suddenly and seriously affected by an illness or misfortune.
🚫 Antonyms
recover from (phrase) – To return to a normal state of health after an illness.
🌱 Derivatives
sufferer (n.) – A person who is affected by an illness or condition.
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