PATIENCE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Patience

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/pˈeɪʃəns/ Listen

noun

Patience n.

1.

The state or quality of being patient; the power of suffering with fortitude; uncomplaining endurance of evils or wrongs, as toil, pain, poverty, insult, oppression, calamity, etc. "Strengthened with all might,... unto all patience and long-suffering." "I must have patience to endure the load." "Who hath learned lowliness From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross."

2.

The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for; forbearance. "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all."

3.

Constancy in labor or application; perseverance. "He learned with patience, and with meekness taught."

4.

Sufferance; permission. (Obs.) "They stay upon your patience."

5.

(Bot.) A kind of dock (Rumex Patientia), less common in America than in Europe; monk's rhubarb.

6.

(Card Playing) Solitaire.

Synonyms: Patience, Resignation. Patience implies the quietness or self-possession of one's own spirit under sufferings, provocations, etc.; resignation implies submission to the will of another. The Stoic may have patience; the Christian should have both patience and resignation.

See images of 'Patience'

Etymology of 'Patience'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

Add this dictionary
to your browser search bar

"Patience" Quotes from Famous Books

... afraid to come to him as a scholar, for when my poor father used to teach me, I was sometimes very stupid and could not understand what he told me? Now, if I should be so with the Minister, what will become of me? I cannot expect him to have the patience with me that my father had; and if he should be very angry with me, I shall be so frightened I shall wish I had refused his kind offer; it must be a fearful thing to make the Minister angry." "It is both a fearful thing ...

— The Eskdale Herd-boy • Mrs Blackford

... as he rode homeward. "Where could he get the money? Borrowed it, doubtless, but of whom? Well, patience—patience! I shall grip thee yet, Henry Burton!" And the possessed man turned round in his saddle, and shook his clenched hand in the direction of the house he had quitted. He then steadily pursued his way, and ...

— The Experiences of a Barrister, and Confessions of an Attorney • Samuel Warren

... came down the next morning but one, there was the child again on the dark narrow stair. She had no doll. Her hands lay folded in her lap. She sat on the same step, the very image of child-patience. As he approached she did not move. I believe she held solemn revel of expectation. He laid his hand on the whitey-brown hair smoothed flat on her head with a brush dipped in water. Not much dressing was wasted on ...

— A Rough Shaking • George MacDonald

... and obey him, and therefore careful to know what his will is. It renders the heart highly thankful to him, as his Creator, Redeemer, and Benefactor. It makes a man entirely depend on him, seek him for guidance, direction, and protection, and submit to his will with patience and resignation of soul. It gives the law, not only to his words and actions, but to his very thoughts and purposes; so that he dares not entertain any which are unbecoming the presence of that God by whom all our thoughts are legible. It crushes ...

— The Book of Religions • John Hayward

... the hot sunshine, severe disapproval in every line of him. Olga felt decidedly out of patience with him. As if it were ...

— The Keeper of the Door • Ethel M. Dell

Copyright © 2025 Dictionary One.com