suffrage

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: suf=frage

CIDE DICTIONARY

suffrage, 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.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I ask your voices and your suffrages."  [1913 Webster]
•  Testimony; attestation; witness; approval.  [1913 Webster]

  "Lactantius and St. Austin confirm by their suffrage the observation made by heathen writers."  [1913 Webster]

  "Every miracle is the suffrage of Heaven to the truth of a doctrine."  [1913 Webster]
•  A short petition, as those after the creed in matins and evensong.  Shipley.  [1913 Webster]

  "I firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful."  [1913 Webster]
•  Aid; assistance.  [1913 Webster]
•  The right to vote; franchise.  [PJC]

suffrage, v. t. 

 To vote for; to elect.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

suffrage, n.
1 a the right of voting in political elections (full adult suffrage). b a view expressed by voting; a vote (gave their suffrages for and against). c opinion in support of a proposal etc.
2 (esp. in pl.) Eccl. a a prayer made by a priest in the liturgy. b a short prayer made by a congregation esp. in response to a priest. c archaic an intercessory prayer.

Etymology

ME f. L suffragium, partly through F suffrage

DEVIL DICTIONARY

suffrage

n. Expression of opinion by means of a ballot. The right of suffrage (which is held to be both a privilege and a duty) means, as commonly interpreted, the right to vote for the man of another man's choice, and is highly prized. Refusal to do so has the bad name of "incivism." The incivilian, however, cannot be properly arraigned for his crime, for there is no legitimate accuser. If the accuser is himself guilty he has no standing in the court of opinion; if not, he profits by the crime, for A's abstention from voting gives greater weight to the vote of B. By female suffrage is meant the right of a woman to vote as some man tells her to. It is based on female responsibility, which is somewhat limited. The woman most eager to jump out of her petticoat to assert her rights is first to jump back into it when threatened with a switching for misusing them.

THESAURUS

suffrage

Australian ballot, Hare system, association, aye, ballot, canvass, canvassing, casting vote, choice, cochairmanship, complicity, condominium, contribution, copartnership, copartnery, cotenancy, counting heads, cumulative voting, deciding vote, division, enfranchisement, engagement, fagot vote, female suffrage, franchise, graveyard vote, hand vote, having a part, household franchise, involvement, joint chairmanship, joint control, joint ownership, joint tenancy, list system, manhood suffrage, nay, no, nontransferable vote, option, partaking, participation, partnership, plebiscite, plebiscitum, plumper, plural vote, poll, polling, preferential voting, proportional representation, proxy, record vote, referendum, representation, right to vote, rising vote, say, secret ballot, sharing, show of hands, single vote, snap vote, straw vote, suffragette, suffragettism, suffragism, suffragist, the vote, transferable vote, universal suffrage, viva voce, voice, voice vote, vote, voting, voting right, woman-suffragist, write-in, write-in vote, yea, yeas and nays, yes

ROGET THESAURUS

suffrage

Politics

N politics, political science, candidacy, campaign, campaigning, electioneering, partisanship, ideology, factionalism, election, poll, ballot, vote, referendum, recall, initiative, voice, suffrage, plumper, cumulative vote, plebiscitum, plebiscite, vox populi, electioneering, voting, elective franchise, straight ticket, opinion poll, popularity poll, issue, opinion, stand, position, program, platform, party line, democracy, republicanism, communism, statism, state socialism, socialism, conservatism, toryism, liberalism, whigism, theocracy, constitutional monarchy, party, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Socialist Party, Communist Party, Federalist Party, Bull Moose Party, Abolitionist Party, Christian Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, National Socialist Worker's Party, Nazi Party, Liberal Party, Labor Party, Conservative Party, ticket, slate, politician activist, candidate, aspirant, hopeful, office-seeker, front- runner, dark horse, long shot, shoo-in, supporter, backer, political worker, campaign worker, lobbyist, contributor, party hack, ward heeler, regional candidate, favorite son, running mate, stalking horse, perpetual candidate, political animal, political contribution, campaign contribution, political action committee, PAC, political district, electoral division, electoral district, bailiwick, electorate, constituents, get-out-the-vote campaign, political education, negative campaigning, dirty politics, smear campaign, also-ran, loser, has-been, office holder, official, occupant of a position, public servant, incumbent, winner, political, partisan, Money is the mother's milk of politics.