# abear

CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abear
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to be able to tolerate or handle something difficult. It is a very old word that people rarely use today.

For teachers: to be able to tolerate, endure, or withstand something.

## Examples

- He could not abear the cold of the winter.
- The old man could not abear the noise of the city and moved to the countryside.
- In the archaic text, the knight is described as a man who could not abear the weight of his own guilt, leading to his eventual downfall.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.