Before he took office in 1999, Nigeria endured decades of autocratic military rule.

But in this case there are competing claims from other estranged parties who have endured decades of their own bitter divorces.

China endured decades of occupation, division and international isolation since that 19th century warning.

But for a people who have endured decades, even centuries, of authoritarian rule, there is still a lingering hope.

India has since endured decades of caste wars and sectarian strife.

Typically it is pain that the patient has lived with and endured for months or years or even decades.

Now, let's get some perspective here: Nelson Mandela endured decades in jail for the crime of trying to free his people.

Many of these same individuals later endured decades of harassment from our own government.

Libyans themselves have endured decades of assassinations, abductions and torture.

"The eightpenny nail," he argued, "is a truly classic design that has endured decades and will continue to do so."