Word Study
suffice
CIDE DICTIONARY
suffice, v. i. [OE. suffisen, OF. soufire, F. suffire (cf. suffisant, p. pr.), L. sufficere to put under, to substitute, to avail for, to suffice; sub under + facere to make. See Fact.].
To be enough, or sufficient; to meet the need (of anything); to be equal to the end proposed; to be adequate. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
"To recount almighty works,
What words or tongue of seraph can suffice?" [1913 Webster]
What words or tongue of seraph can suffice?" [1913 Webster]
suffice, v. t.
- To satisfy; to content; to be equal to the wants or demands of. Spenser. [1913 Webster]"Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter." [1913 Webster]
- To furnish; to supply adequately. [1913 Webster]"The power appeased, with winds sufficed the sail." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
suffice, v.
1 intr. (often foll. by for, or to + infin.) be enough or adequate (that will suffice for our purpose; suffices to prove it).
2 tr. meet the needs of; satisfy (six sufficed him).
1 intr. (often foll. by for, or to + infin.) be enough or adequate (that will suffice for our purpose; suffices to prove it).
2 tr. meet the needs of; satisfy (six sufficed him).
Idiom
suffice it to say I shall content myself with saying.
Etymology
ME f. OF suffire (suffis-) f. L sufficere (as SUB-, facere make)
THESAURUS
suffice
advantage, answer, avail, be equal to, be handy, be of use, be satisfactory, bear, benefit, bestead, do, do it, do the trick, fill the bill, fulfill, get by, give good returns, go around, hack it, hold, just do, make the grade, meet, meet requirements, pass, pass muster, pay, pay off, profit, qualify, quench, reach, sate, satiate, satisfy, serve, serve the purpose, stand, stand up, stretch, suit, take it, work, yield a profitROGET THESAURUS
suffice
Sufficiency
VB be sufficient, suffice, do, just do, satisfy, pass muster, have enough, eat, one's fill, drink one's fill, have one's fill, roll in, swim in, wallow in, wanton, abound, exuberate, teem, flow, stream, rain, shower down, pour, pour in, swarm, bristle with, superabound, render sufficient, replenish, Adj, sufficient, enough, adequate, up to the mark, commensurate, competent, satisfactory, valid, tangible, measured, moderate, full, ample, plenty, plentiful, plenteous, plenty as blackberries, copious, abundant, abounding, replete, enough and to spare, flush, choke-full, chock-full, well-stocked, well- provided, liberal, unstinted, unstinting, stintless, without stint, unsparing, unmeasured, lavish, wholesale, rich, luxuriant, affluent, wantless, big with, unexhausted, unwasted, exhaustless, inexhaustible, Adv, sufficiently, amply.For further exploring for "suffice" in Webster Dictionary Online