The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Suffer \Suf"fer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suffered; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Suffering.] [OE. suffren, soffren, OF. sufrir, sofrir,
   F. souffrir, (assumed) LL. sofferire, for L. sufferre; sub
   under + ferre to bear, akin to E. bear. See Bear to
   support.]
   1. To feel, or endure, with pain, annoyance, etc.; to submit
      to with distress or grief; to undergo; as, to suffer pain
      of body, or grief of mind.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To endure or undergo without sinking; to support; to
      sustain; to bear up under.
      [1913 Webster]

            Our spirit and strength entire,
            Strongly to suffer and support our pains. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To undergo; to be affected by; to sustain; to experience;
      as, most substances suffer a change when long exposed to
      air and moisture; to suffer loss or damage.
      [1913 Webster]

            If your more ponderous and settled project
            May suffer alteration.                --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To allow; to permit; not to forbid or hinder; to tolerate.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not
            suffer sin upon him.                  --Lev. xix.
                                                  17.
      [1913 Webster]

            I suffer them to enter and possess.   --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To permit; bear; endure; support; sustain; allow; admit;
        tolerate. See Permit.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Suffering \Suf"fer*ing\, n.
   The bearing of pain, inconvenience, or loss; pain endured;
   distress, loss, or injury incurred; as, sufferings by pain or
   sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs. "Souls in sufferings
   tried." --Keble.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Suffering \Suf"fer*ing\, a.
   Being in pain or grief; having loss, injury, distress, etc.
   -- Suf"fer*ing*ly, adv.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

suffering
    adj 1: troubled by pain or loss; "suffering refugees"
    2: very unhappy; full of misery; "he felt depressed and
       miserable"; "a message of hope for suffering humanity";
       "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages" [syn:
       miserable, suffering, wretched]
    n 1: a state of acute pain [syn: agony, suffering,
         excruciation]
    2: misery resulting from affliction [syn: suffering, woe]
    3: psychological suffering; "the death of his wife caused him
       great distress" [syn: distress, hurt, suffering]
    4: feelings of mental or physical pain [syn: suffering,
       hurt]