In the five paramitas, what is patience and why is it on the list?

I understand the English dictionary definition of patience, the ability to wait. When reading about the paramitas, it seems like this word in the original language covered forbearance, i.e. the ability to suffer other people's anger and insults calmly, in addition to the sense of be capable of waiting. Was patience added to the list because of the huge time required to achieve full Buddhahood? Or is patience a sloppy translation and is this paramita really about forbearance? Anyhow, in personal practice, if it means the ability to wait, then it isn't *actionable* since, patient or not, there is little risk of me reaching full Buddhahood on any given day.