v. Forms: 4 suffische, 4–5 suffich; 4 sofise, 4–5 -ice, 4–6 suffyse, -yce, 4–7 suffise, 5 suffis, -icy, -ys(s, -es, sofyse, 5–6 suffyze, 5–7 -ize, 4– suffice. [f. OF. suffis-, pres. stem of suffire:—L. sufficĕre, f. suf- = SUB- + facĕre to make, do.]
1. intr. To be enough, sufficient or adequate for a purpose or the end in view.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Treat. (1866), 19. I haue tolde þe in þis mater a lyttill as me thynke; noghte affermande þat þis suffisches, ne þat þis es þe sothefastnes in þis mater.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 138. He … the richesse of gold despiseth, And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 28. And þis sufficeþ of þe kuttyng of þe fistule.
1528. More, Dyalogue, IV. Wks. 264/2. Yet yf he lacked charite, all hys fayth suffised not.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 66. ’Twixt such friends as wee, Few words suffice.
1646. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 133. This shall suffice from … Your Grace’s humblest seruant, R. Moray.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 411. What art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict Senteries?
1718. Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. xviii. 41. To omit other Instances … let this which followeth suffice.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 340. So a seisin at one time would suffice; for the statute said ‘seised at any time.’
1847. Emerson, Poems, Day’s Ration, Wks. (Bohn), I. 482. Why need I volumes, if one word suffice?
† b. Const. to (a person): To be enough for, satisfy the requirements of; = sense 5. Obs.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 61. To us silf sofisen þis cauus.
1382. Wyclif, John xiv. 8. Schewe to vs the fadir, and it suffisith to vs.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxii. 145. Qwhat thing myght suffice to þat man, to wham all þe werld will noȝt suffice?
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 5206. Swych ten … Wolde nat suffysen vn-to me At O dyner … To fulfylle myn appetyt.
1484. Caxton, Curiall, I b. Late hyt suffyse to the and to me that one of us tweyne be infortunat.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxvi. 229. All this suffyseth not to me for I wolde haue parte of ye seygnory.
c. Const. for in the same sense.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 375. Oonly the sighte of hire whom þat I serue … Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VI. cciv. (1811), 215. Why is nat this kyngdom suffycyent for twayne yt somtyme suffysed for .vii.?
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IV. 426. Short reprimand and exhortation short Suffice for thee.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 80. Such all the rules, and they suffice for all.
d. Const. for (a thing): To be of sufficient quantity, capacity or scope for; to provide enough material or accommodation for.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 203. Yf hit sufficith nat for a-seth … Mercy … wil make good þe remenant.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., xxiii. 151. Suffysid a lytill graue of ve foote for his Pallis, for his halle, and for his roob.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings xx. 10. If the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
1703. Pope, Thebais, 216. For crimes like these, not all those realms suffice, Were all those realms the guilty victor’s prize!
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 115. The Janissaries by whom they were surrounded sufficed not for their purposes.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt (1868), 46. The book-shelves did not suffice for his store of old books.
1875. Spencer, First Princ., II. v. 59 (ed. 3), 189, note. This mode of conceiving the phenomena suffices for physical inquiries.
† e. Const. to: To be adequate or equal to; to avail for. Obs.
c. 1325. Song of Yesterday, 136, in E. E. P. (1862), 136. Al þi wit schal be þorw souȝt To more good þen þou may suffise.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 135. Vrþely herte myȝt not suffyse To þe tenþe dole of þo gladnez glade.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 12. I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6747. All-þof Ector was on, þat odmony slogh,… Hymselfe might not suffise to þat soume hoge.
1496–7. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 13 § 1. The graunt of the seid too xvmes and xmes doth not suffise nor extende to the behoufull chargis and expencis.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 13. He wolde not that his worde onely sholde suffyse to our example of lyuynge.
f. Const. for with a noun of action or gerund.
1475. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 150/2. The somme … wold not suffise for the contentation of the wages.
1577. B. Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., 19 b. Such store of Poultrie … as the doung of them suffised for the manuring of theyr ground.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 20. This may suffice for the silencing of such simpletons.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 627. A lighter harrow … will suffice for covering seed.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. vi. 37. The evidence of the most abandoned villains sufficed for their conviction.
g. Const. to with inf.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 153. Al the world ne may suffise To stanche of Pride the reprise.
1480. Caxton, Cron. Eng., cii. 82. The lyuyng peple ne suffysed not to burye the dede bodyes.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxiii, heading. Be mirry and glaid, honest and vertewous, Ffor that suffisis to anger the invyous.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xxvii. 617. The same occasions sufficed also, to procure the deliuerie of Manasses.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 113. To recount Almightie works What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice?
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 59. The world, you gave him, Suffices not to pay the obligation.
1839. Kemble, Resid. Georgia (1863), 259. A very short time would suffice to teach him to read.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xiv. 97. The fog … every trace of which a few minutes sufficed to sweep away.
1883. Manch. Guard., 12 Oct., 5/3. A little thing has sufficed to destroy the balance of a structure that was already tottering.
† h. To suffice to oneself: to be self-sufficient. Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 109. Þei þat sufficy to hemsilf.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, iii. 32. The onely one God,… Suffizing to himselfe.
† 2. impers. It is enough. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Mark xiv. 41. He cam the thridde tyme, and seith to hem, Slepe ȝe nowe, and reste ȝe; sothli it sufficith.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Shipman’s T., 52. Na moore of this as now, for it suffiseth.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 245. Whan kinde is dueliche served, It oghte of reson to suffise.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 1824. Sese! it suffes now.
1530. Palsgr., 743/1. Syth he hath made his confessyon with his awne hande, it suffyseth, I aske no more.
b. Const. inf. or clause with, or (formerly) without, anticipatory subject it. Now chiefly in the subjunctive, Suffice it, sometimes short for Suffice it to say.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 14. To studie upon the worldes lore Sufficeth now withoute more.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 6864. Than suffysede, stedefastly To loue god, our creatour.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Publ. Baptism. If the childe be weake, it shall suffice to powre water upon it.
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., II. xxxiv. (1568), 153. For to be a good captayne, sufficeth only to be hardy, and fortunate.
1692. Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., 25. It suffices to say that Xantippus becoming the manager of affairs, altered extreamly the Carthaginians Army.
1779. Mirror, No. 8. Suffice it to say, that my parting with the Dervise was very tender.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, x. 100. Suffice it to say that there are many such reasons.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 178. Hit suffichyth that … we fyndyth y-writte, that oone forcible kynge of grete Pouer, assiget the Cite of Rome.
1552. Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion. It shall suffyse that the bread be suche, as is vsuall to bee eaten.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 64. Sufficeth yt also That Troians misery dyd I liue too testifye mourneful.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. viii. 56. Suffise, that I haue done my dew in place.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Hero & Leander, I. 71. Let it suffise, That my slacke muse sings of Leanders eies.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. i. 252. If thou ask me why, Sufficeth my reasons are both good and waighty.
1646. Crashaw, Steps to Temple, 71. Angels cannot tell; suffice, Thyself shalt feel thine own full joys.
1671. Milton, Samson, 63. Suffices that to me strength is my bane.
a. 1764. Lloyd, New-River Head, Poet. Wks. 1774, II. 68. Suffice it, that my goody’s care Brought forth her best, tho’ simple fare.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. iii. Suffice it, that perchance they were of fame.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., vii. I have passed over a great deal of the religious part of Mr. Brough’s behaviour: suffice it, that religion was always on his lips.
c. With dative pron. added. arch.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 573. Suffiseth me thou make in þis manere [etc.]. Ibid. (c. 1392), Compl. Venus, 65. To the hit ought ynogh suffise, that love so highe a grace to yow sent.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. xii. Wel hit maye suffyse the to haue had tweyne of them.
c. 1520. Nisbet, N. T., Matt. x. 25. It sufficis to the discipile that he be as his maistir.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xv. 20. Sufficeth thee that poore Hieronimo Cannot forget his sonne Horatio.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. i. 10. Let it suffice thee (Mistris Page) … that I loue thee.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 88. Had it suffic’d him to have known Good by it self.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. ix. § 15. It suffices me only to have remark’d here, that [etc.].
1833. Tennyson, Two Voices, 386. Suffice it thee Thy pain is a reality.
1875. W. S. Hayward, Love agst. World, 80. Let it suffice you that I will see you on the subject.
d. Const. for with acc. and inf.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxiii. It sufficed for our Minister to stand up for Madame Strumpff.
† 3. To have the necessary ability, capacity or resources for doing something; to be competent or able to do something. Chiefly const. inf. Obs. (in later use colored by 1 g.)
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 32 b. Ȝif þe lord ne mai noȝt suffisen to uellen þe vnder wode þe contreie him sal helpe.
c. 1383. Concl. Loll., in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1911), Oct., 748. In vsinge medeful werkis … as moche as þei suffisen.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 21. I schal do, fader, as ye sein, Als ferforth as I mai suffise.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xx. 221. The Lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise.
1406. Hoccleve, La Male Regle, 400. To recorde it vnnethe I may souffyse.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 96. I may nocht suffyss to se ȝour sanctitud sad.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 875. Of all your bewte I suffyce not to wryght.
1743. Warburton, Ric. Arist., in Pope’s Dunc., p. xxxiv. If so many and various graces go to the making up a Hero, what mortal shall suffice to bear this character?
1823. Scott, Quentin D., Introd. A Frenchman … can … address himself to a variety of services, and suffice in his own person to discharge them all.
† b. trans. To be capable of. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 89. That thou to loves heste obeie Als ferr as thou it myht suffise.
14[?]. Chaucer’s H. Fame, 1180 (Caxton). My wytt [ne] may it [v.r. me] not suffyse.
† 4. intr. Contextually, of a quality or condition: To provide adequate means or opportunity; to allow or admit of a certain thing being done. Also trans. Obs.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1094. As my wytte koude best suffyse … I besette hytte To loue hir yn my beste wyse.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxl. Quhill my yf may suffise.
1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 296/2. My said Lordes … shall as ferforth as her cunnyng and discretions suffisen, trewely … avise ye Kyng.
c. 1440. Generydes, 1150. When they came ther they sawe a faire cite, As full a pepill as it cowde suffice.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 311. Yf the tyme wylle suffise it, the abbes … may exorte them in thys wyse.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 1. As fer as my wrecchednes wold suffyse.
5. trans. To be enough for; to meet the desires, needs or requirements of (a person); to satisfy. arch. † Also impers.
The object is of datival origin: cf. 1 b. † (It) sufficeth me: I am satisfied, content.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 290. Al that mihte him noght suffise, That he ne bad to do juise Upon the child.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6005. Therfore it suffisith me Her good herte and her beaute.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1219. The halff of our lyvlode Wold scarsly suffise hym selff aloon.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxiii. 18. Þat suffice vs with-outen more.
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, viii. 30. They were so grete plente of peple that no londe myght suffyse them.
1550. Crowley, Last Trumpet, 417. Let this example suffice the.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 112. A pound of bread, which oftentimes would scarcly suffice some trauellers to breakfast.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xv. 35. Sufficeth me; thy meanings vnderstood.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxviii. It is my will that you remain here, let that suffice you.
1803–5. Wordsw., Rob Roy’s Grave, 38. The good old rule Sufficeth them.
1854. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1876), I. I. iv. 173. Barbarian minds remain in the circle of ideas which sufficed their forefathers.
transf. 1643. J. M., Sov. Salve, 13. A weak reason may suffice so strong a cause.
† b. Const. of (the thing). Obs.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., I. xxxii. 125 (Harl. MS.). He that pleithe with me, shall neuer be suffisid of my pley.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, c viij. For it suffyseth them ynowe of one masse.
1611. Bible, Ezek. xliv. 6. O yee house of Israel, let it suffice you, of all your abominations.
c. pass. To be satisfied or content. arch.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 200. Whoos boody may not suffysed been.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, e ij. Therwith she myght haue be pleased and suffised.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. (1880), I. 115. The parentes … being suffised that their children can onely speke latine proprely.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. III. (1641), 132/1. Whose searching soule can hardly be suffiz’d With Vulgar Knowledge.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxxvii. I in thy abundance am suffic’d.
1700. Dryden, Theodore & Honoria, 194. Not half suffic’d, and greedy yet to kill.
1850. T. T. Lynch, Theoph. Trinal, v. 71. One half hour, solemnity may fill his heart; the next, pleasantry; by each shall his heart be for the time sufficed.
† d. refl. To satisfy oneself. Obs.
† Suffice thee, you: be content.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, IV. ix. Suffyse the, For ther to I shalle put al my dylygence.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxv. 268. Suffyce you with the gyft that I haue gyuen you.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., t v. I suffise my selfe with my accustomed manner.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, III. v. 10. Come lets returne againe, And suffice our selues with the report of it.
† 6. To provide enough food for, satisfy the appetite of; also, to satisfy (the appetite). Chiefly pass. Obs.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xlviii. 428. The tenthe part Of theke Meyne with that fisch suffised not scholde be.
1526. Tindale, Mark viii. 4. From whence myght a man suffyse them with breed? Ibid., 8. They ate and were suffysed.
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 191. And when my knightly stomacke is suffis’d, Why then I sucke my teeth.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. iii. 4. When all men had … Of meates and drinkes their appetites suffiz’d.
1609. Man in Moone (1849), 30. He is none of your ordinarie fellowes, which will suffice nature for threepence;… a rabbit is but a bitte with him.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., I. 554. When the herd suffis’d, did late repair To ferney heaths.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, I. 577. They feasted, and were all sufficed.
† 7. To satisfy, meet the ‘calls’ of (a desire, need, sense, emotion, etc.) Obs.
1533. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 301. What [meat] shulde suffice their necessitie.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), 60. Sleepe no more then shall suffice the sustentation of your bodies.
c. 1585. Faire Em, I. i. 67. Let my vttermost wealth suffice thy worth.
1598. Chapman, Iliad, XVIII. 316. Then Ioue askt Iuno, if at length, she had suffisde her splene.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, III. iv. The King has now his curious sight suffis’d With all lost Arts.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 148. Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire.
1725. Pope, Odyss., II. 63. Scarce all my herds their luxury suffice.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., XVI. vii. § 1. There was … indeed enough to suffice all his wants.
† 8. intr. with unto: To be satisfied with. rare.
c. 1390. Chaucer, Truth, 2. Suffise vnto þyn þyng þow it be smal.
† 9. trans. To make or be sufficient provision for; to supply with something. Also, to replenish (a supply). Obs.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 56. V sester shal suffice an aker lond. Ibid., IX. 191. Xij hundrid pounde of metal shal suffise A thousand feet in lengthe of pipis sure.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy., III. 381. Oxen,… whereof … they killed fourescore, which sufficed the armie with flesh.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, IX. 1085. Nor Juno, who sustain’d his arms before, Dares with new strength suffice th’ exhausted store. Ibid. (1700), Iliad, I. 653. The Pow’r appeas’d, with Winds suffic’d the Sail.
† 10. To supply, furnish (a product, etc.). Obs.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 510. The Iuyce, as it seemeth, not being able to suffice a Succulent Colour, and a Double Leafe.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIII. 292. The rugged soil … Suffices fulness to the swelling grain.
