suffering
has definitions from the fields of psychology,medicine
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[ noun ] (medicine) a state of acute pain
Synonyms Used in print (Brand Blanshard, "The Emotive Theory," Robert...)If so , then it is clear that in saying the suffering was bad we are not expressing our feelings only . Let us suppose that the animal did not in_fact fall into the trap and did not suffer at_all , but that we mistakenly believe it did , and say as before that its suffering was an evil thing . If anyone asked us , after we made the remark that the suffering was a bad thing , whether we should think it relevant to what we said to learn that the incident had never occurred and no pain had been suffered at_all , we should say that it made all the difference in_the_world , that what we were asserting to be bad was precisely the suffering we thought had occurred back there , that if this had not occurred , there was nothing left to be bad , and that our assertion was in that case mistaken . If anyone asked us , after we made the remark that the suffering was a bad thing , whether we should think it relevant to what we said to learn that the incident had never occurred and no pain had been suffered at_all , we should say that it made all the difference in_the_world , that what we were asserting to be bad was precisely the suffering we thought had occurred back there , that if this had not occurred , there was nothing left to be bad , and that our assertion was in that case mistaken . The suggestion that in saying something evil had occurred we were after_all making no mistake , because we had never meant anyhow to say anything about the past suffering , seems to me merely frivolous . |
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[ noun ] misery resulting from affliction
Synonyms Used in print (Joyce O. Hertzler, American Social Institutions;...)His religious_beliefs provide him with plausible explanations for many conditions which cause him great concern , and his religious faith makes possible fortitude , equanimity , and consolation , enabling him to endure colossal misfortune , fear , frustration , uncertainty , suffering , evil , and danger . (J. H. Hexter, "Thomas More: On the Margins...)Secondly , to find a learned diversion and a pleasing joke in More 's account of the stupid brutalities of early sixteenth century wars , of the anguish of the poor and dispossessed , of the insolence and cruelty of the rich and powerful requires a callousness toward suffering and sin that would be surprising in a moral imbecile and most surprising in More himself . (John Michael Ray, "Rhode Island's Reactions...)Resolved that his wrongs and bereavements in Kansas , occasioned by the violence and brutality of those who were intent_on the propagation of slavery in that territory , call_for a charitable judgment upon his recent efforts in Virginia to undermine the despotism from which he had suffered , and commend his family to the special sympathy and aid of all who pity suffering and reverence justice . (Robert Penn Warren, Wilderness....)Then why was he assuming the role - the gesture and the suffering ? Or was he now taking the role - the gesture and the suffering - because it was the only way to affirm his history and identity in the torpid , befogged loneliness of this land . |
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[ noun ] (psychology) psychological suffering
Examples "the death of his wife caused him great distress" Used in print (Jack Kaplan, "The Health Machine Menace: Therapy by...)But the machine quack can cause far more than just suffering . (Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)The horrifying humor , the specifically sexual embarrassment of the joke gone_wrong , the monstrous image of the fat man dressed_up as a whore dressing_up as a baby ; the epiphany of that quivering flesh ; the bringing_together around it of the secret liaison between indolent , mindless sensuality and sharp , shrewd talent , cleverness with an occasional touch of genius ( which , however , does not know `` how to attack the problem of suffering '' ) ; the miraculous way in which music , revelation and death are associated in a single instant - all this seems a triumph of art , a rather desperate art , in itself ; beyond itself , also , it evokes numerous and distant resonances from the entire body of Mann 's work . Again , the sufferings and disasters produced by any transgression against the commandment not to love are almost invariably associated in one way or another with childhood , with the figure of a child . That this abandonment takes_place on a stage , during an ' artistic ' performance , is enough to associate Jacoby with art , and to bring_down upon him the punishment for art ; that_is , he is suspect , guilty , punishable , as is anyone in Mann 's stories who produces illusion , and this is true even_though the constant elements of the artist nature , technique , magic , guilt and suffering , are divided in this story between Jacoby and La^utner . (John Cheever, "The Brigadier and the Golf Widow,"...)The remarks she made about the sufferings of a lonely woman seemed so broad at_first that he did n't know what to make_of them , but after the sixth drink he put his arm around her and suggested that they go upstairs and look_for her checkbook there . |
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[ noun ] feelings of mental or physical pain
Synonyms Used in print (Jack Kaplan, "The Health Machine Menace: Therapy by...)And she felt amply rewarded for her suffering when the evidence of Lee 's quack shenanigans , gathered by the tape_recorder under her friend 's clothing , proved adequate in court for convicting Franklin_D._Lee . |
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[ adjective ] troubled by pain or loss
Examples "suffering refugees" Used in print (Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)His appearance as Lizzy evokes not amusement but horror in the audience ; it is a spectacle absolutely painful , an epiphany of the suffering flesh unredeemed by spirit , untouched by any spirit other_than abasement and humiliation . Related terms |
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[ adjective ] very unhappy; full of misery
Examples "he felt depressed and miserable" "a message of hope for suffering humanity" "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages" Used in print (Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)a suffering form , an existence wholly comprised in the awareness of death . Related terms |
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