Also 6–8 toll-. [a. F. tolération (15th c. in Godef.), ad. rare L. tolerātiōn-em, f. tolerāre to TOLERATE.]
† 1. The action of sustaining or enduring; endurance (of evil, suffering, etc.). Obs.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xxi. There is also moderation in tolleration of fortune of euerye sorte, whiche of Tulli is called equabilite.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Toleration, an induring; a sufferance.
1623. Cockeram, III. Mutius Sceuola, saued his life by the patient tolleration of the burning of his hand.
b. Phys. = TOLERANCE 1 b. rare.
1877. Carnochan, Operat. Surgery, 328. Military surgery supplies many illustrations of toleration of shock and mildness of collapse after severe injuries to the medullary substance of the hemispheres.
1882. A. Wilson, Facts & Fictions Zool., 10. Suppose that the toleration of the toad’s system to starvation and to a limited supply of air is taken into account.
1905. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 287. Toleration. When, on taking a drug continuously, the first effects decrease until they are no longer noticed, toleration is said to be established.
† 2. The action of allowing; permission granted by authority, licence. Obs.
1517–18. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 296. Paid … for goyng to ffulham to my lorde of london … to haue tolleracion of Nasynges chauntry.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol., VI. xxiii. (1579), 735. The yeerely perquisites that ye Pope made of his Elections, Preuentions, Dispensations,… Tolerations.
1571–2. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 122. Na licencis or tollerationis grantit of befoir to have any strenth.
1612. Beaum. & Fl., Cupid’s Rev., I. i. Would I had giv’n 100l. for a tolleration, That I might but use my conscience in mine Own house.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 209. If any person or persons … should procure and obtain at the Court of Rome, or elswhere, any Licence or Licences, Union, Toleration, or Dispensation to receive or take any more Benefices with cure, then was limited by the said Act.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. l. 224. Ordered the Hapoa or Custom-master to … take the Emperors customary Dues, and give me a free Toleration to Trade.
b. Locally in U.S. applied to a licence to gather oysters or keep oyster-beds.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v., The fee is a toleration fee.
3. The action or practice of tolerating or allowing what is not actually approved; forbearance, sufferance.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Rom., iii. 26. The remission of former sinnes in the toleration [Wyclif in the sustentacioun or bering vp, 1611 through the forbearance] of God.
1588. Hunsdon, in Border Papers (1894), I. 367. His tolloracion of the mase in sondrie places of Scotland.
a. 1610. Healey, Epictetus’ Man. (1636), 84. Every thing may bee apprehended two waies, eyther with toleration, or with impatience.
1755. Young, Centaur, v. Wks. 1757, IV. 220. Faults which are the natural growth of these distinct periods of life, may meet with some toleration.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 201 (The Rose). Mutual toleration … taught us mutual love.
1890. Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip, XXVI. 186/1. I think, also, that a wise toleration might be extended to hawks and owls.
1907. Verney Mem., I. 571. A large hopefulness and toleration born of his wide acquaintance with human nature.
4. spec. Allowance (with or without limitations), by the ruling power, of the exercise of religion otherwise than in the form officially established or recognized.
1609. (title) An Humble Supplication for Toleration and Libertie … by some of the deprived Ministers and People.
1643. Declar. Com., Reb. Irel., 3. To bring in a more publique Tolleration of the Popish Religion.
1672. Evelyn, Diary, 12 March. To this succeeded the King’s declaration for an universal tolleration.
1689. Popple, trans. Locke’s 1st Lett. Toleration, ¶ 1. Since you are pleased to inquire what are my Thoughts about the mutual Toleration of Christians in their different Professions of Religion, I must needs answer you freely, That I esteem that Toleration to be the chief Characteristical Mark of the True Church.
1691. Burnet, Orig. Mem., an. 1689, I. (1902), 317. At the same time that the toleration was proposed to both houses.
1780. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 369. I have been a steady friend, since I came to the use of reason, to the cause of religious toleration.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 9. Locke … contended that the church which taught men not to keep faith with heretics had no claim to toleration.
b. Act of Toleration, Toleration Act, an act or statute granting such toleration; so Bill of Toleration, Toleration Bill; esp. in Eng. Hist. Act 1 Will. & Mary (1689), cap. 18, by which freedom of religious worship was granted, on certain prescribed conditions, to Dissenting Protestants.
1692. Ho. Lords MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), 1 Feb. Moved that the Quakers shall not have the benefit of this Act before they take the Declaration in the Act of Toleration.
1714. Barrington, Lett. fr. Lay-man, Title-p., A Postscript, shewing How far the Bill to prevent the Growth of Schism is Inconsistent with the Act of Toleration.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, an. 1689 (1823), IV. 16. The bill of toleration passed easily. It excused dissenters from all penalties,… for going to their separate meetings.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. iv. 53. The statute 1 W. & M. st. 2. c. 18, commonly called the toleration act.
1799. Drysdale (title), Popery Dissected; or, a Speech against the Popish Toleration Bill.
1827. Jos. Ivimey, Pilgr. 19th C., iv. 139. ‘Hand me,’ said the judge, ‘the new Toleration Act’ [app. 52. Geo. III., c. 155].
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xi. III. 81. The Toleration Bill passed both Houses with little debate. Ibid., 86. The sound principle … is, that mere theological error ought not to be punished by the civil magistrate. This principle the Toleration Act not only does not recognise, but positively disclaims.
1878. Gardiner, in Encycl. Brit., VIII. 352/1. The Toleration Act … guaranteed the right of separate assemblies for worship outside the pale of the Church.
1910. A. Menzies, in Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 463/1. The Act of Toleration [Scotland] of 1712 allowed Episcopalian dissenters to use the English liturgy.
5. Coining. = TOLERANCE 4 a.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 71/1. In Great Britain all silver coins are made of ‘standard silver,’ the fineness of which by legal definition is 925. The toleration is 4 units of pure silver in 1000 of alloy. In Germany and in the United States all silver coins, in France and Austria the major silver coins, are of the fineness 900, with a toleration of three units.
