suffering

Everyday

1. Pain, sadness or difficulty that a person or animal feels. tree →
2. Feeling pain or having a problem: "She is suffering from a cold." tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life a person is "suffering from" an illness, like flu. In history and religious education, pupils learn about the suffering of people in wars and famines, and how people help. In stories, suffering can make a character stronger or kinder. Phrases: suffering from, end the suffering, pain and suffering.

Examples

• The vet ended the old dog's suffering. tree →
• He is suffering from hay fever. tree →
• Charities help reduce the suffering of people after floods. tree →
• The animals were suffering in the heat. tree →
• We read about the suffering of soldiers in the war. tree →
• She is suffering from a bad headache. tree →
• The scene of past sufferings revives painful memories. tree →

Note

As a noun usually uncountable: "much suffering". The verb is "suffer", usually with "from" for illnesses: "suffer from asthma". Do not tease people who are suffering; show kindness and get help.

In Jewish tradition

In "long-suffering" it means patient, slow to anger, not pain.

Interpretation. "Long-suffering" translates the Hebrew "erekh apayim," slow to anger. It is one of the Thirteen Attributes of God's mercy that Jews recite on fast days and the High Holy Days.

Examples

• And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; (Torah EXO.34.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore I fled beforehand unto Tarshish; for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy, and repentest Thee of the evil. (Prophets JON.4.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God; for He is gracious and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy, and repenteth Him of the evil. (Prophets JOL.2.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou, O LORD, knowest; Remember me, and think of me, and avenge me of my persecutors; take me not away because of Thy long-suffering; know that for Thy sake I have suffered taunts. (Prophets JER.15.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

As a noun usually uncountable: "much suffering". The verb is "suffer", usually with "from" for illnesses: "suffer from asthma". Do not tease people who are suffering; show kindness and get help.