early 14c. (intransitive); late 14c. (transitive), from present participle stem of Old French sofire "be sufficient, satisfy" (Modern French suffire), from Latin sufficere "put under, lay a foundation under; supply as a substitute; be enough, be adequate," from sub "up to" (see sub-) + combining form of facere "to make, to do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Phrase suffice it to say (1690s) is a rare surviving subjunctive.
