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Let's try the Oxford English Dictionary:
tolerance 2. The action of allowing; licence, permission granted by an authority.
3. The action or practice of tolerating; toleration; the disposition to be patient with or indulgent to the opinions or practices of others; freedom from bigotry or undue severity in judging the conduct of others; forbearance; catholicity of spirit.
The first meaning is basically endurance (the OED does not sort its meanings by how common they are by by chronological criteria, apparently). I think the Oxford meaning is closer to the French than the American meaning.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 05:42:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ah, see. Transatlantic rift again. Interesting.
by Francois in Paris on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 02:54:49 PM EST
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