Origins
The English noun "tolerance" traces its origins to the Latin term "tolerantia," which signified endurance or the capacity to bear hardship. This Latin noun derives from the verb "tolerare," meaning to bear, endure, sustain, or put up with. The verb "tolerare" itself is formed from the root verb "tollere," combined with the frequentative suffix "-are," although "tollere" and "tolerare" are distinct in meaning and origin; "tolerare" is generally considered a derivative verb formed to express repeated or sustained action of bearing or enduring.
The ultimate etymological source of "tolerare" lies in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root *telh₂-, which carries the fundamental meaning "to lift, support, bear a weight." This root is notably productive and ancient, giving rise to a range of cognates across several Indo-European languages, all connected by the semantic field of bearing or enduring physical or metaphorical weight.
In Latin, the PIE root *telh₂- manifests in several related words. For example, "tollere," meaning "to lift" or "to raise," is a direct reflex of this root. Interestingly, "tollere" is a suppletive perfect form of the verb "ferre" (to carry, bear), which itself is irregular and complex in Latin. Another Latin descendant is "latus," the perfect passive participle of "ferre," meaning "carried." These forms highlight the semantic continuity of bearing or carrying inherent in the root.
Greek Origins
The Greek language also preserves this root in verbs such as "tlēnai" and "tlaō," both meaning "to bear" or "to endure." The mythological figure Atlas, condemned to bear the heavens, derives his name from this root as well, literally meaning "the Endurer" or "the Bearer." This mythological usage reflects the semantic core of enduring or carrying a heavy burden.
In Sanskrit, a cognate is found in the word "tulā," meaning "scales" or "balance," an instrument that bears weight equally. This further illustrates the semantic field of bearing or supporting weight that the PIE root *telh₂- encompasses.
The Latin "tolerantia" entered the English language via Old French "tolerance" during the 15th century. Initially, the term retained its physical senses, referring to a body's capacity to endure heat, pain, or other physical stresses. This usage aligns closely with the original Latin sense of endurance or bearing hardship.
Figurative Development
It was not until the 16th and 17th centuries that "tolerance" acquired its more abstract and socially significant meaning in English. During this period, particularly in the context of religious and political debates over coexistence and freedom of belief, "tolerance" came to denote the willingness or ability to permit opinions or behaviors one does not necessarily agree with. This semantic shift reflects a metaphorical extension from physical endurance to social and ideological endurance.
The transition from physical to moral or social endurance is a common pattern in the semantic development of words related to bearing or enduring. In the case of "tolerance," the term's evolution mirrors historical contexts in which societies grappled with religious pluralism and the need for peaceful coexistence.
"tolerance" is a word rooted in the Indo-European linguistic heritage, descending from the PIE root *telh₂-, which encapsulates the concept of bearing or enduring. Its Latin ancestor "tolerantia" conveyed endurance in a physical sense, and through Old French, it entered English with similar connotations. Over time, particularly from the 16th century onward, "tolerance" broadened to encompass the social and ideological willingness to endure differing opinions and behaviors, a meaning that remains central to its use today.