toler

a. [ L. tolerabilis: cf. F. tolérable. See Tolerate. ] 1. Capable of being borne or endured; supportable, either physically or mentally. [ 1913 Webster ]

As may affect the earth with cold and heat
Scarce tolerable. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderately good or agreeable; not contemptible; not very excellent or pleasing, but such as can be borne or received without disgust, resentment, or opposition; passable; as, a tolerable administration; a tolerable entertainment; a tolerable translation. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Tol"er*a*ble*ness, n. -- Tol"er*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tolerantia: cf. F. tolérance. ] 1. The power or capacity of enduring; the act of enduring; endurance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diogenes, one frosty morning, came into the market place, shaking, to show his tolerance. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The endurance of the presence or actions of objectionable persons, or of the expression of offensive opinions; toleration. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) The power possessed or acquired by some persons of bearing doses of medicine which in ordinary cases would prove injurious or fatal. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Forestry) Capability of growth in more or less shade. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

5. the allowed amount of variation from the standard or from exact conformity to the specified dimensions, weight, hardness, voltage etc., in various mechanical or electrical devices or operations; -- caklled also allowance specif.: (Coinage) The amount which coins, either singly or in lots, are legally allowed to vary above or below the standard of weight or fineness. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

6. (Biochemistry) the capacity to resist the deleterious action of a chemical agent normally harmful to the organism; as, the acquired tolerance of bacteria to anitbiotics. [ PJC ]

7. (Immunology) the acquired inability to respond with an immune reaction to an antigen to which the organism normally responds; -- called also immunotolerance, immunological tolerance, or immune tolerance. Such tolerance may be induced by exposing an animal to the antigen at a very early stage of life, prior to maturation of the immune system, or, in adults, by exposing the animal to repeated low doses of a weak protein antigen (low-zone tolerance), or to a large amount of an antigen (high-zone tolerance). [ PJC ]

Tolerance of the mint. (Coinage) Same as Remedy of the mint. See under Remedy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. tolerans, p. pr. of tolerare to tolerate: cf. F. tolérant. See Tolerate. ] Inclined to tolerate; favoring toleration; forbearing; indulgent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tolerated p. pr. & vb. n. Tolerating. ] [ L. toleratus, p. p. of tolerare, fr. the same root as tollere to lift up, tuli, used as perfect of ferre to bear, latus (for tlatus), used as p. p. of ferre to bear, and E. thole. See Thole, and cf. Atlas, Collation, Delay, Elate, Extol, Legislate, Oblate, Prelate, Relate, Superlative, Talent, Toll to take away, Translate. ] To suffer to be, or to be done, without prohibition or hindrance; to allow or permit negatively, by not preventing; not to restrain; to put up with; as, to tolerate doubtful practices. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crying should not be tolerated in children. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

We tolerate them because property and liberty, to a degree, require that toleration. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Permit. [ 1913 Webster ]