Pa"tience (?), n. [F. patience,
fr. L. patientia. See Patient.] 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.
Strenthened with all might, . . . unto all
patience and long-suffering.
Col. i.
11.
I must have patience to endure the
load.
Shak.
Who hath learned lowliness
From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross.
Keble.
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.
Matt. xviii. 29.
3. Constancy in labor or application;
perseverance.
He learned with patience, and with meekness
taught.
Harte.
4. Sufferance; permission. [Obs.]
Hooker.
They stay upon your patience.
Shak.
5. (Bot.) A kind of dock (Rumex
Patientia), less common in America than in Europe; monk's
rhubarb.
6. (Card Playing) Solitaire.
Syn. -- 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.
