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tol·er·ate

(tŏlə-rāt′)

tr.v. tol·er·at·ed, tol·er·at·ing, tol·er·ates

1. To refrain from interfering with or prohibiting (something undesirable or outside one's own practice or beliefs); allow or permit: The president will not tolerate any deviation from stated policy.

2. To recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs, or practices of others).

3. To accept or be patient regarding (something unpleasant or undesirable); endure: tolerated his insults for weeks. See Synonyms at endure.

4. Medicine To have tolerance for (a substance or pathogen).

[Latin tolerāre, tolerāt-, to bear; see telə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

toler·a′tive adj.

toler·a′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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