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suf⋅frage

[suhf-rij]

–noun

1.	the right to vote, esp. in a political election.

2.	a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.

3.	Ecclesiastical. a prayer, esp. a short intercessory prayer or petition.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L suffrāgium voting tablet, vote, equiv. to L suffrāg(ārī) to vote for, support + -ium -ium

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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suf·frage (sŭf'rĭj)

1. The right or privilege of voting; franchise.
2. The exercise of such a right.
A vote cast in deciding a disputed question or in electing a person to office.
A short intercessory prayer.

[Middle English, intercessory prayer, from Old French, from Medieval Latin suffrāgium, from Latin, the right to vote, from suffrāgārī, to express support; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Suffrage

Suf"frage\, n. [F., fr. L. suffragium; perhaps originally, a broken piece, a potsherd, used in voting, and fr. sub under + the root of frangere to break. See Break.]

1. A vote given in deciding a controverted question, or in the choice of a man for an office or trust; the formal expression of an opinion; assent; vote.

I ask your voices and your suffrages. --Shak.

2. Testimony; attestation; witness; approval.

Lactantius and St. Austin confirm by their suffrage the observation made by heathen writers. --Atterbury.

Every miracle is the suffrage of Heaven to the truth of a doctrine. --South.

3. (Eccl.) (a) A short petition, as those after the creed in matins and evensong. (b) A prayer in general, as one offered for the faithful departed. --Shipley.

I firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful. --Creed of Pope Pius IV.

4. Aid; assistance. [A Latinism] [Obs.]

Suffrage

Suf"frage\, v. t. To vote for; to elect. [Obs.] --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : suffrage

Spanish: sufragio,

German: das Wahlrecht,

Japanese: 選挙権

More Translations »

suffrage [(suf-rij)]

The right to vote (see franchise). In the United States, the term is often associated with the women's movement to win voting rights. (See suffragist.)

suffrage

c.1380, "prayers or pleas on behalf of another," from O.Fr. suffrage (13c.), from M.L. suffragium, from L. suffragium "support, vote, right of voting," from suffragari "lend support, vote for someone," from sub "under" + fragor "crash, din, shouts (as of approval)," related to frangere "to break" (see fraction). The meaning "right to vote" is first found in the U.S. Constitution, 1787.

Main Entry: suf·frage
Pronunciation: 's&-frij
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin suffragium vote, political support, from suffragari to support with one's vote
1 : a vote in deciding a controverted question or the choice of a person for an office or trust suffrage in the Senate —U.S. Constitution article V>
2 : the right of voting : FRANCHISE; also : the exercise of such right

suffrage

in representative government, the right to vote in electing public officials and adopting or rejecting proposed legislation.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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