Lewis & Short

pătĭentĭa, ae, f. [patior], the quality of bearing, suffering, or enduring, patience, endurance.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: pati entia est honestatis aut utilitatis causā rerum arduarum ac difficilium voluntaria ac diuturna perpessio, Cic. Inv. 2, 54, 163: patientia famis et frigoris, id. Cat. 1, 10, 26: hominum ea patientia, virtus frugalitasque est, id. Verr. 2, 2, 3, § 7: paupertatis, id. Agr. 2, 24, 64: audiendi, Quint. 11, 2, 8; 12, 9, 9.
    2. B. In partic., submission to unnatural lust, pathicism, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34; Sen. Q. N. 1, 16, 5; id. Vit. Beat. 13, 3; Tac. A. 6, 1; Petr. 9 and 25; Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 5, 3, 2.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Forbearance, indulgence, lenity: constantiam dico? nescio an melius patientiam possem dicere, Cic. Lig. 9, 26: quousque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientiā nostrā? id. Cat. 1, 1, 1; id. Pis. 2, 5: quem duplici panno patientia velat, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 25: levius fit patientiā Quicquid corrigere est nefas, id. C. 1, 24, 19.
    2. B. In a bad sense, indolence, want of spirit: ne quis in me aut nimiam patientiam, aut nimium stuporem arguat, Porc. Latro ap. Sen. Contr. 2, 15; Plin. Ep. 6, 31, 5: in patientiā firmitudinem simulans, Tac. A. 6, 46.
    3. C. Submissiveness, subjection: usque ad servilem patientiam demissus, Tac. A. 14, 26: Britanniam uno praelio veteri patientiae restituit, id. Agr. 16; id. H. 2, 29.