The experience of pain, distress, or hardship; enduring something difficult or unpleasant.
From Latin sufferre meaning 'to bear, undergo,' from sub- 'under' + ferre 'to bear, carry.' The word literally means 'to carry something underneath oneself,' suggesting the weight and burden of difficult experiences.
The etymology of suffering as 'carrying something underneath' creates a powerful image - we literally bear our pain beneath us like a hidden burden. This metaphor explains why suffering often feels like carrying invisible weight and why 'bearing' difficulties resonates so deeply across cultures.
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