1. The fact of enduring (pain, hardship, annoyance); the habit or the power of enduring; often absol. as denoting a quality, long-suffering, patience.
α. 1667. Milton, P. L., II. 262. We can create, and work ease out of pain Through labour and endurance.
1839. G. P. R. James, Louis XIV., IV. 449. He was forgiving, and of long endurance.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxvi. 267. The disciplined endurance of the men.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 135. Their aged wisdom was constantly in a state of endurance mitigated by sarcasm.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, viii. 76. The endurance of the inequalities of life by the poor is the marvel of human society.
1888. Amer. Humorist, 5 May, 3/2. Prolonging his visit beyond all endurance.
β. 1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 246. O she misusde me past the indurance of a block.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. I. (1765), 137. Not a grain more of Magnanimity, of Candour and Calm Indurance.
† b. Durance, captivity, imprisonment. Obs.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1610), 1256. Which onely composition by the perfidious souldiors made in the absence and indurance of their Generall, was by the Turkes faithfully kept.
2. Duration or continued existence in time. Also, power of lasting, capacity of continued existence.
1494. Fabyan, V. cxxix. 111. Some accompt ye enduraunce therof to the laste yere of Burdredus.
1692. Lady Russell, Lett., II. cxxxvii. 112. The joys of eternal endurance.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 74. The leases now commonly granted are of endurance nineteen years.
1811. Miss L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., I. 27. Sermons of four hours’ endurance.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., I. ii. § 23 (1864), 63. The undying endurance of an electric wire.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., i. (1875), 7. This is why Byron’s poetry had so little endurance in it, and Goethe’s so much.
β. 1596. Spenser, State Irel., 2. Others more late and of lesse indurance.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 381. The long indurance of the Siege [of Troy].
† b. ? Protraction of an existing condition. Obs. rare–1.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 122. I should haue tane some paines … to haue heard you Without indurance further.
3. concr. That which is endured; a hardship.
α. 1608. Shaks., Per., V. i. 13. If thine considered proue the thousand part of my enduraunce, thou art a man.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 158. Wee shall also vnyoke our People from all heauie Burthens, and Endurances.
1812. J. J. Henry, Camp. agst. Quebec, 134. The endurances we underwent in conjunction.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. 286. Is my present endurance none?
β. a. 1555. Ridley, Wks., 428. I never had of him which suffered indurance at my entrance to the see of London, one penny of his moveable goods.
1622. J. Rawlins, Recor. Ship Bristol, in Arb., Garner, IV. 591. Which he must procure, or incure sorer indurances.
