tolerate

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb put up with something or somebody unpleasant
  2. verb recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others)
  3. verb have a tolerance for a poison or strong drug or pathogen or environmental condition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tolerātus, the perfect passive participle of tolerō (“to endure”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with Old English þolian (“to tolerate, suffer, bear”) and French tolérer. More at thole.

In classic literature

Synonyms

digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear, stand, support, brook, abide, suffer, put up

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading