[fi-lat-l-ee] 
| 1. | the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment. |
| 2. | the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history. |
[fil-uh-tel-ik] , phil⋅a⋅tel⋅i⋅cal, adjective [fi-lat-l-ist] , noun | phi·lat·e·ly (fĭ-lāt'l-ē) n. The collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, and related materials; stamp collecting. [French philatélie : Greek phil-, philo-, philo- + Greek ateleia, exemption from payment (because a postage stamp indicates prepayment of postage) (a-, without; see a-1 + telos, tax, charge; see telə- in Indo-European roots).] phil'a·tel'ic (fĭl'ə-těl'ĭk), phil'a·tel'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj., phil'a·tel'i·cal·ly adv., phi·lat'e·list n. |