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*bear* with me

Posted by TheFallen on January 19, 2005

In Reply to: *bear* with me posted by Word Camel on January 18, 2005

: : I asked my French students to "bare with me" and realised I couldn't explain it's origin, meaning or even certain of it's spelling. I'm also aware "to bare" occurs in many other phrases eg "to bare in mind" etc

: Unless your students are nudists, you were likely to be asking them to *bear* with you. One of the many meanings of the verb "to bear" is to "To press, force one's way against resistance; to move with effort, with persistence, or with a distinct bias in some direction" (from the OED). So "bear with me" means persist in me in something, a line of reasoning, perhaps. It's also to "bear in mind" as in to bear or carry some though in mind.

: But be of good cheer. At least it's a funny spelling mistake. Personally, I can not spell to save my life, and I've spelled it "bare" (to lay bare or disclose) on occasion. You could always claim it was a Freudian slip.

: Camel

To bear also means to tolerate, which is the proper sense in the expression "bear with me"... "tolerate my methods a little longer, for the outcome will be worthwhile".

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