Suffering, n.
The bearing of pain, inconvenience, or loss; pain endured; distress, loss, or injury incurred; as, sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs. "Souls in sufferings tried." Keble.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Suffering, a.
Being in pain or grief; having loss, injury, distress, etc. -- Suf"fer*ing*ly, adv.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for suffering; he lists it under pain.
Where he writes about it:
Suffering is one of the severer forms of pain. — from pain
The prick of a needle causes pain, but we should scarcely speak of it as suffering. — from pain
Distress is too strong a word for little hurts, too feeble for the intensest suffering, but commonly applied to some continuous or prolonged trouble or need; as, the distress of a shipwrecked crew, or of a destitute family. — from pain
Agony and anguish express the utmost pain or suffering of body or mind. — from pain