What is "estate of sufferance"

Sufferance \Suf"fer*ance\, n. [OE. suffrance, OF. sufrance, soufrance, F. souffrance, L. sufferentia, from sufferens, -entis, p. pr. of sufferre. See Suffer.]

1. The state of suffering; the bearing of pain; endurance.

   He must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance.
   --Shak.

2. Pain endured; misery; suffering; distress.

   The seeming sufferances that you had borne.
   --Shak.

3. Loss; damage; injury. [Obs.]

   A grievous . . . sufferance on most part of their fleet.
   --Shak.

4. Submission under difficult or oppressive circumstances; patience; moderation.
   --Chaucer.

   But hasty heat tempering with sufferance wise.
   --Spenser.

5. Negative consent by not forbidding or hindering; toleration; permission; allowance; leave.
   --Shak.

   In their beginning they are weak and wan, But soon, through sufferance, grow to fearful end.
   --Spenser.

   Somewhiles by sufferance, and somewhiles by special leave and favor, they erected to themselves oratories.
   --Hooker.

6. A permission granted by the customs authorities for the shipment of goods. [Eng.]

   Estate of sufferance (Law), the holding by a tenant who came in by a lawful title, but remains, after his right has expired, without positive leave of the owner.
   --Blackstone.

   On sufferance, by mere toleration; as, to remain in a house on sufferance.

   Syn: Endurance; pain; misery; inconvenience; patience; moderation; toleration; permission.