Today’s Word: Tolerant

Have you ever used the word “tolerant” or any of its derivations like tolerance, tolerate? in your writing? The word “tolerant” means willing to accept or allow different opinions, behaviors, or beliefs without being upset or judgmental. It can also mean patient and open-minded toward differences in people, cultures, or ideas. The noun form of the word is tolerance, and the verb form is tolerate.

As for the etymology of the word “tolerant” and its derivatives, it can be seen that they trace back to Latin. Here’s a brief etymological breakdown:

Origin: From the Latin tolerans (present participle of tolerare), meaning “to endure or bear.”

First recorded use in English: The word “tolerant” emerged in English around the early 17th century (approximately the 1600s).

Tolerate:

Origin: From the Latin verb tolerare, meaning “to endure, to bear, to put up with.”

First recorded use in English: The verb “tolerate” appeared in English around the late 14th century (circa 1380s).

Tolerable:

Origin: From the Latin tolerabilis, meaning “that can be endured or borne.”

First recorded use in English: The adjective “tolerable” entered English around the late 14th century (circa 1390s).

Tolerance:

Origin: From the Latin tolerantia, meaning “forbearance, endurance.”

First recorded use in English: The noun “tolerance” appeared in English around the late 16th century (circa 1580s).

And Turkish….

The following are the Turkish equivalents of the words and their etymology respectively:

1. Tolerant:
   • Turkish Equivalent: Hoşgörülü
   • Etymology: Hoşgörü means “tolerance” or “forbearance,” and -lü is a suffix that indicates someone who possesses a certain quality. The word hoşgörü itself comes from hoş (“pleasant” or “good”) + gör (“to see”) and refers to the ability to accept and be understanding of others’ differences.
2. Tolerate:
   • Turkish Equivalent: Tahammül etmek or Katlanmak
   • Etymology: Tahammül etmek comes from Arabic taḥammul (تحمل), meaning “to bear or endure.” Katlanmak also means “to endure,” and it has its roots in Turkish, with a sense of enduring something unpleasant.
3. Tolerable:
   • Turkish Equivalent: Tahammül edilebilir or Katlanılabilir
   • Etymology: Derived from tahammül (Arabic taḥammul), meaning “endurance,” with the suffix -edilebilir meaning “able to be done” or “possible to endure.”
4. Tolerance:
   • Turkish Equivalent: Hoşgörü

Etymology: As noted earlier, hoşgörü combines hoş (“pleasant”) with gör (“to see”), indicating a positive or accepting outlook toward others’ differences. The synonyms that fit this word hoşgörülü can be anlayışlı, sabırlı, tahamüllü, müsamahalı.

Here are some examples formed with the word “tolerant“.

• She was always tolerant of others’ opinions, even if they were different from her own.

• The teacher created a tolerant classroom environment where all students felt respected.

• He is tolerant of noise, even when the neighbors play loud music late at night.

• A tolerant society embraces diversity and encourages mutual understanding.

• My parents are very tolerant, allowing me to make my own decisions while offering guidance.

• The company prides itself on having a tolerant workplace, where employees from all backgrounds are welcomed.

• He has a tolerant attitude toward other cultures, appreciating their customs and traditions.It’s important to be tolerant of people’s mistakes, as we all have room to grow.

• The counselor encouraged her to develop a more tolerant mindset when dealing with stressful situations.

• In the face of criticism, she remained tolerant and calm, not allowing negativity to affect her.

MORE EXAMPLES WITH “TOLERANCE” AND “TOLERABLE“:

Tolerance (noun):

1. The tolerance of different cultures in a society is crucial for peaceful coexistence.
2. She showed great tolerance towards people who had opposing views.
3. Due to the tolerance of the community, everyone felt welcome regardless of their background.
4. The tolerance of pain varies from person to person.
5. His tolerance for spicy food is impressive; he can eat the hottest peppers without flinching.

Tolerable (adjective):

1. The noise from the construction site was tolerable, but it was still annoying.
2. After a long day of hiking, the discomfort in my feet was tolerable.
3. The heat was tolerable in the morning but became unbearable by noon.
4. Although the movie wasn’t great, it was tolerable for a casual watch.
5. The smell from the garbage was tolerable once I opened the windows.

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