philately
[ fi-lat-l-ee ]
noun
the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.
the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history.
Origin of philately
1First recorded in 1860–65; from French philatélie, from Greek phil- phil- + atéleia “freedom from charges” (taken to mean recipient's freedom from delivery charges by virtue of the stamp which sender affixed to the letter), literally, “want of taxation,” equivalent to a- a-6 + tél(os) “tax” + -eia -y3
Other words from philately
- phil·a·tel·ic [fil-uh-tel-ik], /ˌfɪl əˈtɛl ɪk/, phil·a·tel·i·cal, adjective
- phil·a·tel·i·cal·ly, adverb
- phi·lat·e·list [fi-lat-l-ist], /fɪˈlæt l ɪst/, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use philately in a sentence
This stamp was first chronicled in the Philatelical Journal in 1874.
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America | John Kerr Tiffany
British Dictionary definitions for philately
philately
/ (fɪˈlætəlɪ) /
noun
the collection and study of postage stamps and all related material concerned with postal history
Origin of philately
1C19: from French philatélie, from philo- + Greek ateleia exemption from charges (here referring to stamps), from a- 1 + telos tax, payment
Derived forms of philately
- philatelic (ˌfɪləˈtɛlɪk), adjective
- philatelically, adverb
- philatelist, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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