Able to be tolerated or endured without extreme difficulty or pain.
From Middle English 'beren' (to carry or endure) plus the suffix '-able' (capable of). The root comes from Old English and Germanic languages, originally meaning to physically carry, then extended to emotional burden.
The word 'bear' shifted from physical carrying to emotional weight—just like how we still say 'don't burden me' today. Language often uses physical strength metaphors for emotional resilience!
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