The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Forbearance \For*bear"ance\, n.
   The act of forbearing or waiting; the exercise of patience.
   [1913 Webster]

         He soon shall find
         Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.  --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

   2. The quality of being forbearing; indulgence toward
      offenders or enemies; long-suffering.
      [1913 Webster]

            Have a continent forbearance, till the speed of his
            rage goes slower.                     --Shak.

   Syn: Abstinence; refraining; lenity; mildness.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

forbearance
    n 1: good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence [syn:
         patience, forbearance, longanimity] [ant:
         impatience]
    2: a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges;
       refraining from acting; "his forbearance to reply was
       alarming"